Why Man United should be grateful for Andre Onana after Arsenal draw – and the area he’s most improved in, writes CHRIS WHEELER
David Raya left Old Trafford with the gratitude of his teammates and manager Mikel Arteta after rescuing a point for Arsenal against Manchester United.
In all the commotion of Raya’s stunning late save from Bruno Fernandes, it was easy to overlook the fact that the goalkeeper at the other end of the pitch had played his part in earning United a 1-1 draw in an entertaining encounter on Sunday.
It has been a difficult season for everyone at United as the biggest club in English football have sunk to 14th place in the Premier League table, and Andre Onana is no different to any of his teammates.
There have been some moments he would rather forget; the spilled cross that led to Georginio Rutter’s goal for Brighton at Old Trafford, the shot from Morgan Gibbs-White that beat Onana in the home defeat to Nottingham Forest, and the intercepted pass when Matej Vydra put Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League in the Czech Republic.
More recently, Onana’s role in Ipswich’s two goals at Old Trafford following a mix-up with Patrick Dorgu and a cross that crept in at his far post when he was expecting Liam Delap to make contact with the ball.
But if the odd lapse is reminiscent of Onana’s first season at United, so too is the resilience to show he has the character to bounce back.
Andre Onana will always stand up and be counted – even when he and Man United struggle
The goalkeeper made some vital saves to keep United in the game against Arsenal on Sunday
He has faced criticism for some howlers this season, but has the character to bounce back
No-one could accuse Onana of hiding. While United players have been dropping like flies – including his two understudies Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton – the Cameroon keeper has stood strong in the face of criticism and made amends for his mistakes.
Against Arsenal on Sunday, Onana had already tipped over Martin Odegaard’s shot in the second half when he pulled off two late saves, from Gabriel Martinelli at his near post and Odegaard again down to his right. They weren’t quite on a par with Raya’s blocks from Fernandes, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee, but just as crucial.
It was a similar story in San Sebastian on Thursday night when Onana denied Brais Mendez and Orri Oskarsson late on to keep United in their Europa League last 16 tie against Real Sociedad.
And even though Ruben Amorim’s side went out of the FA Cup on penalties to Fulham four days earlier, it took Onana’s two saves from Emile Smith-Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon in extra-time to get United as far as a shootout.
It was notable against Arsenal that he looked a lot stronger at corners after conceding twice from set-pieces against Arteta’s side at the Emirates in December. There was little Onana could do about Declan Rice’s excellent equaliser in the 74th minute.
Passing out from the back remains a concern – the Gunners tried to exploit it in the early stages at Old Trafford – but that is as much down to United’s defenders being comfortable receiving the ball under pressure than any problem with Onana.
The 28-year-old has continued to be a mainstay of this United side during a turbulent season, especially in recent weeks when Bayindir and Heaton have been injured and United’s bench has been filled with rookie keepers like Elyh Harrison, Dermot Mee, Hubert Graczyk and William Murdock.
It has been a challenging learning curve at United, even for a man who has played in a Champions League final and kept goal for big European clubs like Inter Milan and Ajax.
He has known the scrutiny which comes with his position ever since his difficult home debut
They still stick a chance in their Europa League last 16 tie thanks to his interventions
Passing out is a worry, but that is as much to do with the defenders’ discomfort taking the ball
Mistakes and criticism are inevitable in arguably the club’s worst season since 1974
From the moment Onana was lobbed from the halfway line on his home debut against Lens in the summer of 2023 after making a £47.2million move from Inter to join his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, he has come to appreciate the magnitude of playing for United and the scrutiny it involves.
He knows that every action will be analysed, every mistake amplified and vilified.
The pressure is huge, particularly when you are playing in goal for Manchester United during probably the worst season since the club were relegated in 1974. Mistakes and criticism are inevitable.
At least, United have a keeper in Onana who will always stand up to be counted.
