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London. — David De Gea made a huge goalkeeping howler as Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat at West Ham yesterday that threatens to send their season into a tailspin.
Just a few days ago United were heavy favourites to finish in the Premier League’s top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League but now they are wobbling badly while the Hammers look safe from relegation.
The result hinged on a catastrophic first-half error by De Gea, who let a tame shot from Said Benrahma squirm past him in the 27th minute after his team had largely dominated the opening period.
De Gea’s blunder came on the day on which he became the most-capped goalkeeper in Manchester United’s history, appearing for the 540th time to move ahead of Alex Stepney.
United, who suffered the pain of conceding a last-gasp penalty in their midweek defeat at Brighton, had been boosted by Arsenal’s 2-0 win at third-placed Newcastle earlier in the day.
But although they are still in fourth place, they are now just one point ahead of red-hot Liverpool, although still with a game in hand.
West Ham, who play in the Europa Conference League semifinals this week, are seven points clear of the drop zone.
David Moyes’s Hammers made a bright start in east London, rocking United on their heels before a speedy counter-attack from the visitors, which ended when Marcus Rashford fired over. With United picking up a head of steam, Bruno Fernandes and then Antony went close. Rashford hit the outside of the post in the 17th minute afer cutting in from the left as the visitors continued to probe.
The Spaniard appeared to have it covered but his footwork did not look right and despite reaching the ball, his hand was not strong enough to keep the ball out.
He lay prone on the turf while West Ham celebrated, unable to comprehend what had happened.
De Gea has had a mixed season — he leads the race for the golden glove for most clean sheets in the Premier League but has also made some costly errors.
United hit the post again in the 32nd minute, when the lively Antony’s powerful drive was deflected onto the woodwork and behind.
Erik ten Hag’s team, who have just 49 goals this season — the second-lowest tally in the top nine — managed 11 shots in the first half but only one on target.
As the clock ticked down to halftime, De Gea denied Benrahma a second before a huge penalty appeal for handball against Victor Lindelof, which was waved away by referee Peter Bankes. De Gea saved Tomas Soucek’s shot at the near post in the opening minutes of the second half and minutes later West Ham had the ball in the net again but the referee blew for a foul on De Gea by Michail Antonio.
United were rocking badly, looking shaky at the back every time the home side put them under pressure.
Soucek headed the ball into the net with less than 20 minutes to go but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Meanwhile Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he played a video of his side’s bitter defeat at Newcastle United a year ago before their vital 2-0 Premier League win at St James’s Park yesterday. The flimsy defeat on Tyneside last May wrecked Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top four as they were squeezed out by arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a Champions League spot.
This time, however, Arsenal turned the tables on Newcastle in impressive fashion to stay firmly in the hunt for their first title since 2004 — Martin Odegaard and a Fabian Schar own goal sealing the points to cut Manchester City’s lead to one point.
“We had to feel it. It wasn’t enough just to talk about it. Not just the players but the staff as well. That feeling that we didn’t do enough that day,” Arteta, who made his players watch the Amazon documentary All or Nothing, shortly before leaving their pre-match hotel, told reporters. “The word was pain and then the desire for revenge. When you have question marks you have to resolve them.
“When you have the emotions we had last year you have to feel them again, realise how nasty they are and approach the game differently. The boys did that well.”
BURNING DESIRE
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale epitomised Arsenal’s steel, making several world-class saves at crucial moments. He said the collective memory of what happened at Newcastle last year had been a massive motivation.
“Immense pride and relief, especially after what happened here last year,” Ramsdale said.
“It wasn’t mentioned up until the meeting before we left the hotel. The manager showed us the video of the documentary and we had a burning desire that it wouldn’t be the same today.” With City winning for the 10th league game in a row on Saturday to open a four-point lead, the pressure was piled on Arsenal ahead of the clash at Newcastle.
But the victory means they stay hot on the heels of Pep Guardiola’s side, even if they have played a game more. — supersport.
Online Reporter