Andre Onana, Joshua Kirkzee, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro
Andre Onana has been the cause of frustration for some United fans recently
When Manchester United went from David de Gea to Andre Onana the plan was clear. De Gea was an old-school No. 1, an elite shot-stopper who wasn't quite as comfortable with the ball at his feet.
In Onana, United were moving to someone so calm in possession he could have probably played outfield. Before facing the then-Inter Milan goalkeeper in the 2023 Champions League final, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he was an "exceptional goalkeeper" in the build-up.
He proved it that night, often starting Inter attacks. As they chased a late equaliser, he became more like a quarterback, picking up possession and looking for those long passes.
But his super strength has vanished in less than two years at Old Trafford. It was almost sad to see Onana send two goal kicks straight out of play against Arsenal, much to the frustration of United supporters and the glee of those in the away end.
After the second of those, Ruben Amorim turned to his goalkeeper and clapped his hands above his head. He was happy with this approach on a day when Onana barely went short with his distribution.
That is a problem for United because they don't have someone in attacking areas who can hold the ball up. Joshua Zirkzee is tall and well-built, but he has an aversion to duelling for aerial balls. Rasmus Hojlund is too easily beaten in those battles. So when Onana does go long, it almost always ends up coming back or, at best, turning into a fight for a second ball.
The problem for Onana right now is a lack of faith in the build-up processes. With Amorim's defence stretched in terms of availability and his best ball-playing defenders out of action, there is a reluctance to try anything too delicate around your own penalty area.
United have also struggled to progress the ball up the pitch under Amorim, and this could be influencing their thinking when it comes to distribution from the back. Onana took an age over kicks against Fulham in the FA Cup last week and was happy to slow it down against Arsenal.
Speaking after the FA Cup exit to Marco Silva's side, Amorim was asked about Onana's slow distribution and the frustration it was causing supporters.
“It is also frustration for Andre, I think he’s trying to read the team," he said. “Sometimes you can feel that our team was so tired. We played the last game with less one player the second half.
“And I feel this game [he] is using that time for us to rest a little bit, to go for the second ball. Sometimes we push the team forward, then you feel it that the players need a little bit moment, so I think he wants to help the team, and not the opposite.”
But 89 games into his United career, pressure is building on Onana. He has made some magical saves in his time at the club, but there have been costly errors as well, and none of it is being offset by that "exceptional" contribution to the build-up play that we were expecting.
Not all of that is Onana's fault. He played behind countless central defensive partnerships last season and had to play without the best ball-playing centre-back in Lisandro Martinez for a lot of the season. The absence of Luke Shaw was also costly in terms of balance.
This season, he has gone from playing behind a back four to a back three, and again the cast is a revolving one. Martinez is injured and again there has been an issue with left-footed defenders.
Right now, there is clearly a lack of trust and familiarity in the build-up play, which is why it isn't happening. There was obvious confusion against Fulham when Victor Lindelof came on, leading to uncertainty over whether to play short or long.
That reflects poorly on Onana, and he has to improve, but circumstances haven't helped him settle in at United. If Amorim has doubts, he has kept them hidden so far, and the change likely in the squad this summer should offer the former Ajax goalkeeper at least one more year to prove himself.
Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton could leave the club, forcing United into the market for backup goalkeepers, while there are more pressing positions to make signings in to suit Amorim's system as well.
That might just protect Onana, but he is in a difficult position, and the frustration with him is starting to become more and more noticeable in the stands at Old Trafford.
A goalkeeper signed to help revolutionise United's build-up play is struggling to impact their possession play at the moment. If Onana is to secure a long-term future under Amorim, that has to change next season.