I am not a Manchester United fan or a David De Gea fanboy, but my word what a display the Spaniard produced in the Red Devils 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday evening.
De Gea was at his best to deny the home side on an incredible 14 occasions. His own player Romelu Lukaku even tried to beat him at one point. However, the Spaniard was not having any of it.
On any other day, against any other goalkeeper Arsenal would have probably notched up a cricket score. The Red Devils backline was rather unusually poor. Their last line of defence was not though.
A good foundation
A world-class goalkeeper is a good foundation for a team wanting to win trophies. In David de Gea, United do not only have a world-class but arguably the best in his position in the world.
Manchester United have promised to be a good team during David de Gea’s time between the sticks. However, they now have aspirations of winning the Premier League title after a couple of years in the wilderness.
Luckily, for United, they know that their last line of defence bails them out when they need him to. He is the sort of no-nonsense goalkeeper that must be a manager’s dream.
De Gea is decent with his feet. However, he does not try fancy stuff like some goalkeepers. He just goes about his job quietly and effectively.
Best in the world
There are few goalkeepers in the world right now that can claim to be better than David De Gea. The 27-year-old has gone from a talented young goalkeeper who many doubted would make it at United, to the top goalkeeper we see today.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is often lauded as ‘the best goalkeeper in the world’. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would also have a claim, although he has been sidelined recently due to injury.
A sign of a good goalkeeper is that they can have nothing to do all game and when called upon produce game-saving saves. They also bring calm to the players in front them. Their defenders safe in the knowledge they have a true cat in goal.
David de Gea is a cool cat, whose reflexes against Arsenal defied the norm. The Spaniard’s display was one of the best goalkeeping displays I think I have ever seen it was that good.
Some will say that is exaggerating. However, I am not sure I have ever seen a goalkeeper make 14 saves in one match, especially in a game between two such big teams.
Probably won’t win the title this season
Unfortunately, De Gea will probably not win the Premier League title this season. This is unlikely to be any fault of his though.
The win at the Emirates Stadium put United five points behind arch-rivals Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title. However, Manchester City could extend that lead again to eight points with a win over West Ham later today.
Such has been City’s form this season that United are now 10/1 to win the title this season. Next weekend’s Manchester derby will be a massive one for United if they are to have any hope of catching their rivals at the top.
Even then, it will still be difficult for David De Gea to collect his second title-winning medal with the Red Devils. If United, as expected, fail to win the title, I doubt many will be pointing fingers of blame at De Gea, as he has more than done his part so far this season.
Is David De Gea the best goalkeeper in the world?
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