United's star man looking to get his new club on a roll after stellar show

THERE is a Rolls-Royce outside The Midland, accompanied by a plaque that commemorates the meeting between Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce at the Manchester hotel in 1904. Matheus Cunha is a Rolls-Royce of a footballer.

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Cunha, voted United fans' man of the match in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, produced a performance that trumped goalscoring debutants at Old Trafford in recent years.

Another Brazilian, Antony, claimed the glory in United's last defeat of Arsenal in the Premier League three years ago yet he was as noticeably one-paced and one-dimensional on his first appearance as he was on his last.

In 90 goalless minutes, Cunha had four attempts at goal, with three on target. He forced the one genuinely good save from David Raya all afternoon in the first half. There were six attempted dribbles and only two of Cunha's 16 passes were misplaced.

We should get used to the sound of plastic seats clattering whenever Cunha receives the ball. He is a talent that brings matchgoers to their feet. The racks of shirts bearing his name and number '10' in the Megastore will have to be replenished more regularly.

One of the most reassuring aspects about Cunha's performance was his work rate. Nobody walked more than he did in the Premier League last season, a curious if misleading stat that predictably gained greater exposure in the wake of his £62.5million move to United.