View Full Version : Almunia is Arsenal's next number one
FFanzone07
28 Apr 2007, 02:36 PM
Manager Arsène Wenger, who has just seen his current number 1 goalkeeper extend his contract at the Emirates Stadium for another year, says that his next first-choice goalkeeper will be Spaniard Manuel Almunia.
Almunia has been second fiddle behind the consistent yet temperamental German, but Wenger says that he is ready to step into Lehmann's shoes when the German leaves....
Wenger said: "If Jens could get two years elsewhere I would understand him leaving but I was determined...."
More: http://z6.invisionfree.com/Football_Fanzone/index.php?showtopic=76181
Knobby
28 Apr 2007, 02:40 PM
Wenger has gone nuts if he keeps his word....
HomeatHighbury
28 Apr 2007, 04:42 PM
I highly doubt we will ever see Aluminium as the first choice keeper.
GoonerMan
28 Apr 2007, 04:50 PM
its disturbing if we do. considering all the talent on offer at this period in time. be very disappointing and you would have to question the clubs ambition. but, i dont think he would have the likes of almunia at the helm of our quality young squads challenge for future titles!
antifan
28 Apr 2007, 06:00 PM
I highly doubt we will ever see Aluminium as the first choice keeper.
My real fear is that we might see him starting sometime next season, and i don't mean in cup games.
HomeatHighbury
28 Apr 2007, 06:58 PM
My real fear is that we might see him starting sometime next season, and i don't mean in cup games.
Are you thinking that in terms of Lehmann becoming more erratic?
antifan
28 Apr 2007, 07:18 PM
Are you thinking that in terms of Lehmann becoming more erratic?
Absolutely. As much as i like Lehmann, he hasn't been as good this year as he was in the past, and i can't see him getting better in the future. I'm afraid that he might have a bad run of games next year and be benched in favor of Almunia, without improved results, just like what happened a few years ago. I'd really hoped we would sign a new #1 this summer.
NightHawk
28 Apr 2007, 07:29 PM
Almunia is not our number 1 keeper next season. According to AW on Arsenal.com (http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=463699&cpid=703&title=Lehmann+agrees+a+new+one-year+contract) ,“I see Jens as a top-class goalkeeper and Almunia as a top-class goalkeeper, so it will be a battle at some stage because Almunia has improved tremendously.“
He didn't say Almunia's our number 1 now did he.
I too was hoping we'd buy a new keeper this summer and maybe keep Lehmann as our number 2 but c'est la vie.
Teso Dos Bichos
28 Apr 2007, 08:26 PM
He said Almunia would be number one when Lehmann left. If I supported Arsenal I would be pretty pissed off at reading that.
AnotherGooner
28 Apr 2007, 08:33 PM
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
XCdude24
28 Apr 2007, 10:42 PM
hopefully the true meaning of Arsene's intentions were lost in translation, or something.
Newtbomb
29 Apr 2007, 03:24 AM
I can see him in a transition role between Jens and the NEXT starting keeper. I'm Ok with him being the backup, but to think of him starting against the likes of Man U and Chelsea next season just frightens me.
king_allsopp
29 Apr 2007, 03:52 AM
what happened to Gordon?
HomeatHighbury
29 Apr 2007, 04:04 AM
He said Almunia would be number one when Lehmann left. If I supported Arsenal I would be pretty pissed off at reading that.
I am, Teso. I think most others would be as well. Nothing terribly good can come of that...
antifan
29 Apr 2007, 05:12 AM
I am, Teso. I think most others would be as well. Nothing terribly good can come of that...
I think Wenger is just telling Almunia what he wants to hear so he can keep him on the bench for another year, i hope.
JoeAFC_9
29 Apr 2007, 08:30 AM
i completely agree with most people on this thread saying that Almunia isn't good enough to be the number 1 goalie at our club. however, 2 b fair 2 him, when was the last time he made a KEY error that cost us a game?? he has got better over time and, with jens havin signed a new deal this week i think it would be better if we spent this summer building up the other problem parts of the team (CB?, RM, other ST??)
Rewinder
29 Apr 2007, 08:45 AM
with jens havin signed a new deal this week i think it would be better if we spent this summer building up the other problem parts of the team (CB?, RM, other ST??)
CB seems rock solid if gallas' latest statements are true.
RM is A-OK, hleb is a great player when the rest of the machine is working, and I'm sure we will see that part of him a lot more next season.
ST - this is the only position I would like to see improved, but any meaningful addition will cost a lot of money, so I don't see significant changes here too.
GK was the best position to sort out this summer - its essential as the defense no longer have faith in lehmann, but it was also something within our price range.
Gordon, Pele, Akinfeev - all would go for between 5-10m, and with milan in the market for a goalkeeper, I would hate to pass on someone like akinfeev, the way we passed on cech, and then have them go on to be one of the worlds best keepers.
red & wite army
29 Apr 2007, 09:21 AM
He said Almunia would be number one when Lehmann left....
...until we buy a new 'keeper.:)
We know that there is good talent out there, in weaker leagues, but where is all the Almunia hating coming from?
Rewinder
29 Apr 2007, 09:32 AM
where is all the Almunia hating coming from?
Last season's cl final :o
red & wite army
29 Apr 2007, 09:38 AM
Last season's cl final :o
He's come and filled in for Jens in other games and has been just fine. I'm not going to judge him on one game, in which he was in a high pressure situation and probably wasn't mentally prepared.
We're not completely sure about how he'd do in the highest level, but neither are we about the other possible buys.