Arthur Desmas, the Le Havre goalkeeper in a bad situation (Le Havre)

The angle of the article surprised him a little, because if it is ” aware of taking more goals », with 23 conceded in 11 days, Arthur Desmas does not feel “ no less efficient » than last season, when his performances reflected progression in his career. After a complicated first exercise in L1 with Clermont in 2021-2022, during which he lost his place, the 30-year-old goalkeeper had greatly contributed to Le Havre's first retention in the elite since 1999.

Voted best goalkeeper in L2 in 2022-2023, Desmas then continued his momentum and shone during the first phase with 77.9% saves, the third best total, and 8.6 goals avoided the best performance in the Championship over the period. But the second part of the season was not of the same ilk. And since the restart, the goalkeeper has been much less decisive. As a symbol, his save rate fell to 61.7%. “ It's contradictory, compared to last season, I almost feel better on the pitch

“, he explains. But some goals are puzzling, like the third conceded against Reims (0-3, November 10), or the opening goals suffered in Toulouse (0-2, September 15) and against Lyon (0-4, on October 20). “In Toulouse, I mess up agrees the native of Brest. I must not go out on the deep ball. Against Lyon, if I put myself in the spectator's place, I say to myself: ''The goalkeeper screwed up''. But the ball passes between the legs of two players and, at no point, do I see it. And facing Reims, I have no regrets.

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Jérôme Alonzo, former goalkeeper Jérôme Alonzo does not share this feeling. “At the moment, Arthur is, for me, disunited in certain decision-making says the former goalkeeper. This can be seen in his timing on releases or even sometimes on footwork. He is 1.96 m tall but currently he looks small. Given his size, Arthur should impose something, but he submits.

Of course, the goalkeeper is not helped by a much more crumbly defense and he must also adapt to the way of playing of Didier Digard, the new coach. But he exudes less serenity and seems less fair in his choices, two elements visible in his raises and in his kicking game. Above all, he fails to pull his team, 17th overall, up. « When the penultimate L1 goalkeeper doesn't make enough saves, sooner or later, before the coach, it's he who will jump, thinks Alonzo.This is the absolute rule. Le Havre does not have time to have such patience with its goalkeeper. But if you take it out now, maybe you kill it

. » Sensitive and always thinking, Desmas remains on course in training under the orders of Nicolas Douchez. At the club, we estimate that the Finisterian has L1 level, even if we are aware of his current difficulties. From there to making strong decisions? “I don't fear for my place pose Desmas. Afterwards, I also know what the high level requirements are. At some point, it's the results that speak.