THE QUIET MAN
Joe Ganley: There was a lot to take pleasure in yesterday: most clearly, these immediately traditional screamers from Dorgu and Cunha, and the spirit and boldness United confirmed after Arsenal scrambled a late equaliser. However I might like to supply a number of phrases in reward of Lammens – the 23-year-old goalkeeper who performs like he is a decade older (in a great way).
The Belgian did not have it straightforward. As everybody is aware of, Arsenal put goalkeepers below large stress at corners and set-pieces, making the six-yard field really feel like Euston station at 6pm on a Friday evening, so the referees and VAR haven’t any possible way of policing any shoves, pushes and pulls. It labored for them within the 84th minute, when Mikel Merino scrambled dwelling, however Lammens’s composure and authority have been close to flawless all through the remainder of the sport.
It is so good to have a keeper that catches the ball; who clearly offers confidence to his again 4. He was jokingly in comparison with Peter Schmeichel after preserving a clear sheet in his first sport, in opposition to Sunderland, however the former Crimson he most jogs my memory of is Edwin van der Sar. In that you simply hardly ever discover him (once more, in a great way). He simply goes about his work calmly, cleanly and effectively, with the odd good save (Zubimendi, Saka) to remind you he is pure high quality.
Like Dorgu and Heaven, he represents one other tick within the field for United’s recruitment division, and so clearly boasts the rock-solid temperament you might want to play for an enormous membership. Earlier than I’m going, I am going to additionally point out Dalot and Shaw too. Like Lammens, they do not seize headlines, however yesterday, they didn’t put a foot flawed.
