Shay Given for Arsenal?

[antifan]

The BBC Sport gossip page has a story saying that Given wants out of Newcastle. Given: Come get me - The Sun (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2004580325,00.html) I've always been a fan of Given, and two seasons ago i would have told Wenger to jump at the chance, now i'm not so sure. Still, he's an improvement over either Lehmann or Almunia, and it would be nice having an Irishman back in the Arsenal lineup. I would prefer Van Der Sar, but at this point, if Wenger doesn't have confidence in Jens he must go out and buy a No.1 in January. He can't afford to gamble the season on Almunia.

[Trigger]

Though he's short he is a sound as a pound keeper, I'd jump all over him if he was to be available. Van der sar would be good too but it's not like he's lighting it up Fulham either. Both are good keepers and I'd be happy to see either here in the January window.

[Gunners11]

I hope Arsene jumps all over this one. Adding Shay in January would be a huge boost for the side. I hope this works out.

[michaec]

Given is a good keeper. He'd be better than if you put both the muppets we've currently got between the sticks together.

[Dave_M]

Stuff

Ive always been a fan too and my views pretty mutch mirror your own. Two years ago yes, today, maybe not so much.

Buying an out of form keeper (IMO) to replace an out of form keeper doesnt sit well with me. Personally Id have liked to have seen Taylor in goal for our Carling Cup matches - see if hes still got enough to play in the EPL. I cant recall the last time I saw him between the sticks

[Gunner Phan]

Lehman is not that bad. I don't think Given is so much better than Almunia that we would have to get him. Let Given stay with the Geordies....

gp

p.s.-Not that I believed it was true anyways....

[billyho96]

Lehmann has been a good keeper. We only let in 26 goals all of last season, I think we miss a mature central mid-fielder to link up the defense and defend strong players on set pieces (see Gilberto Thread) I don't recall anything like a howler from Lehmann.

[Detlef]

two years ago, that would be a good move.

I say wait until the summer and go for Robert Green when Norwich get relegated.

[mis-e-one]

Lehmann has been a good keeper. We only let in 26 goals all of last season, I think we miss a mature central mid-fielder to link up the defense and defend strong players on set pieces (see Gilberto Thread) I don't recall anything like a howler from Lehmann.

You don't remember Dynamo Kiev from last season?! Or the Robbie Keane incident at Spurs last season?

Certainly in the latter he cost Arsenal a win.

[arsenalgirl30016]

Here is the prerequisite girly post:
I would love to have Given at Arsenal to increase the eye candy we get to see. He is a cutie!

Now on to the real question:
If he were available, etc. would I want him at Highbury? Personally no-he seems to be a solid keeper but he has even more of Jens' proclivity for coming out of the box and trying to help and getting himself in trouble.

I did some stat checking:
This season:
Given: 28 goals conceded (3rd in EPL)
Lehman:20 " (9th in EPL)

GK Cleansheets:
Lehman: 4 (9th in EPL)
Given: 2 (17th in EPL)

Now for the fun (because it can't be all the keepers fault):
Defensive goals conceded (by team):
NCFC:
Bernard-23
O'Brien-23
Hughes-21
Elliot-17
Carr-17

AFC:
Cole-22
Toure-22
Lauren-18
Cygan-14

I did not include Campbell since he has been out so much this season.

Just some stats to compare and contrast......

[michaec]

You could put David Seaman, Peter Schmeicel, Gordon Banks, Lev Yashin and Dino Zoff in the goal together and they'd still concede a shedload of goals behind a defence featuring Titus Bramble.

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

[phishy]

You could put David Seaman, Peter Schmeicel, Gordon Banks, Lev Yashin and Dino Zoff in the goal together and they'd still concede a shedload of goals behind a defence featuring Titus Bramble.

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

absolutely right...

Given is a class keeper who is playing behind the worst defense in the league.
He is such a better option than what we have currently.. However, if this meant we couldnt get a quality centre-half, then I wouldn't do it.

[Miles Brasher]

Given's a great keeper, but a bit on the short side, and that might be worrying when the crosses come in, when you consider the lack of height we have in defense. Sol is the only 1 over 6'. Add that the shortarses that are Reyes,Cesc Ljungberg and Flamini, and the non defensive headerers that are Henry,Pires and Bergkamp, and I think we need a tall commanding keeper.

Trust in Almunia

[ArsenalTexan3]

When R. Wright went to Everton, I was a bit dissappointed. Here is why.

1. Seaman
2. Wright
3. Taylor

Not a bad group as all three played in league and Euro as Arsenal wins the double that year.

Wright gets transfered and then Shabbon(sp) comes in as the new #2 guy. Wasn't too thrilled as I thought Taylor should have seen more time. In the end it didn't make too much difference even though Arsenal only won the FA Cup.

Exit Seaman and enter Lehmann. Again was not too thrilled by the move as by this time I was expecting Taylor to get the nod. However Taylor hardly saw any time as he was plagued by injury. Stack gets the nod as #2 which is fine because at this point both Taylor and Shabbon are both injuried. Undefeated and win the league. No complaints there while there were a number of Lehmann bashers which is fair enough.

Lehmann in goal, Stack on loan, Shabbon let go, and Taylor back from inuries, but then this Spanaird comes in. Lehmann starts the season off with talor and whats his face roating in the Carling Cup and as the #2 keeper on the bench. Whats his face has started to start a few games, but has he done any better than Lehmann?

I'm willing to wait until the end of the season to find out, but not at the expense on not lifting a trophey this season. In my opnion Taylor needs to get some starting XI games. While I realize he is young, that can be a positive( or negative depending on your view of keepers). He has the experience(remember he did play a number of games tro fill in for both Wright and Seaman in 01/02) to play so its not like we are thowing a lamb to the wolves.

Now as far as Shay Given. If he does coem to Arsenal, great. if not, great. But I think Taylor is who Arsenal should be looking at for the future(short and long term).

[Catfish]

This move would have been great 2-3 yrs ago. He seems to be going downhill OR NUFC just has a leaky defense. The only reason why I would sign him is because he is Irish.

[PYordan]

Or how about you all just stay the hell away from the only person who is keeping our team from from duking it out with Blackburn to see who can be the new Leeds.

Seriously, if Arsenal took him and we had to pay for every single stupid mistake that Bramble and co. make then we'd be in (even more) serious trouble.

[Catfish]

This Given rumor has got me so jacked! I hope it happens. He is probably my favorite GK in the EPL. I would love to get an Arsenal GK kit with Given on the back.

[Gunners11]

This Given rumor has got me so jacked! I hope it happens. He is probably my favorite GK in the EPL. I would love to get an Arsenal GK kit with Given on the back.

I agree with you 100%. Given is my favorite player who doesn't play for Arsenal. I'd be so happy if he came to Highbury in January.

[theleftymop]

I would love Given to suit up for us. If nothing else, it would just make me less on-edge during our matches!

[antifan]

This rumor might have more legs than the usual Sun speculation. Guardian- Friedel lined up if Given goes (http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1373791,00.html) In the story they rate Given at 7-8 million pounds. This sounds too dear for Arsenal, and we lack excess players that would interest Newcastle in a swap deal. If he goes it will probably be to ManU. :(