The first half of the game was nothing short of lively, witnessing both teams scoring goals. The match, however, lost some of its energy in the second half due to mass substitutions from both sides.
Notably, United's recent acquisition, Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, who had joined the team on a £44 million deal from Inter Milan, didn't make an appearance in this game, despite being part of the United States tour.
The responsibility of guarding the goalpost was entrusted to Tom Heaton, while Bruno Fernandes took over the captain's armband, replacing defender Harry Maguire.
United's Brazilian winger, Antony, had an early opportunity to open the scoring, but he squandered the chance as his shot veered wide of the target.
Arsenal had begun their US tour with a resounding 5-0 win against the MLS All-Stars. They came close to scoring an opener through Gabriel Martinelli, but Tom Heaton exhibited his skills with a superb double save, denying the Brazilian forward.
United managed to break the deadlock in the 30th minute when Bruno Fernandes, cutting in from the right side, unleashed a deceptive left-footed shot that left Arsenal's goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale helpless.
Just seven minutes later, Jadon Sancho added another goal to United's tally. Gabriel, an Arsenal defender, made an unfortunate miskick on the halfway line, and the England forward capitalized on the opportunity, confidently firing the ball into the net.
Notably, Sancho played a central role in this game, deviating from his usual position on the wing, and proved to be a valuable asset to United, especially with the team still searching for a central striker in the transfer market.
The second half saw both Erik Ten Hag and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta making extensive use of their squads, leading to a natural reduction in intensity. As a result, United's lead remained secure throughout the game.
One standout player in United's midfield was 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who impressed with his performance. Fernandes, the team's star, commended the academy product, praising his resilience, ball skills, strength, and ability to both defend and attack.
The Portuguese player expressed optimism about Mainoo's future, hoping that he would receive more playing time to showcase his talents.
At the end of the match, an interesting scenario unfolded, as both teams agreed to participate in a penalty shoot-out, irrespective of the final score. Though the shoot-out had no bearing on the game's outcome, the managers viewed it as a valuable opportunity to test their players' mettle from the spot.
Looking ahead, Manchester United is set to take on Real Madrid in Houston on Wednesday, while Arsenal is scheduled to face Barcelona in Los Angeles.
However, Barcelona's friendly against Juventus, originally scheduled for later on Saturday, had to be canceled due to a viral gastroenteritis outbreak within the Spanish team. The statement released by Barcelona indicated that a significant portion of their squad was affected by the illness, with Spanish media reporting that at least a dozen players had fallen ill.