David de Gea has played his part in Manchester United’s improved defence this season, with the team looking more resilient under Erik ten Hag.
The goalkeeper has produced some fine displays, notably at home to West Ham earlier in the campaign, and even last week against Crystal Palace he produced a couple of wonder saves.
However, De Gea’s shot-stopping ability has never been in doubt. It is the rest of his game which has been flawed for years.
There was an unfortunate reminder of this against Arsenal, with United exacerbating his deficiencies playing the ball out from the back, by repeatedly playing it back to him.
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De Gea performance at worst possible time
De Gea was at the heart of Arsenal’s first goal, passing the ball to an under-pressure Aaron Wan-Bissaka, when pretty much any other option would have been preferable. He was then rooted to his line for the cross which was headed in.
Late in game there was a farcical moment as he flapped at a high ball, pushing it out rather than simply catching it.
De Gea’s poor performance came at the worst possible time, after he had insisted he had nothing to prove.
He was quoted by The MEN ahead of the game: “I don’t have to show anything, I show already for many years my qualities.
“I know people love to talk, but I’m used to that, I’m just performing as well as I can, helping the team and trying my best all the time.”
The moment any player starts getting complacent, it’s dangerous. De Gea should be recognising that there are areas of his game to work on, which have led to him getting dropped by the Spanish national team.
He also has his contract to sweat over. As it stands, De Gea will be a free agent in June. Rather than United being desperate to hang onto him, it is the goalkeeper who is eager to stay, prepared to take a wage cut, The Sun report.
Errors have been present for De Gea, this season, like previously. His inexplicable mistake against Everton in the FA Cup, and his woeful passing out from the back against Brentford early in the season.
Erik ten Hag has largely done a good job of masking De Gea’s deficiencies, but he shouldn’t have to. There are other options out there, and with the goalkeeper’s contract expiring, the manager has a chance to move United forward in a new direction at the end of the season.
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