da apostaganha： Arsenal fans have a discernible bond of trust with their manager Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman’s transfer dealings and youth development policy have gifted the Premier League with some of its most talented and engaging stars. Yet if the studious manager has one noticeable defect, it is his reluctance to source a reliable goalkeeper who could assimilate into other top teams. Manuel Almunia has saved five of the last six penalties he has faced. His understudy Lukasz Fabianski saved a penalty in Arsenal’s away win at Partizan Belgrade this week. However when placed in the context of an entire game those statistics pale into insignificance. Wenger has been accused of dithering in the transfer market but do the Gunners’ problems run deeper than their heavily publicised goalkeeping predicament?
da jogodeouro： Almunia is an athletic, nimble keeper who occasionally displays his impressive reflexes. Yet those important traits are easily dismissed when he delivers an error- strung performance, as exemplified last weekend against West Bromich Albion. The Spaniard was at fault in the early stages of that encounter, clumsily fouling Peter Odemwingie in the area. He temporarily redeemed himself by saving Chris Brunt’s tame penalty kick. He was criticised though for West Brom’s second goal as Gonzalo Jara’s low near post shot went in off his arms. For their third the maligned stopper erratically rushed towards Brunt on the edge of the area which allowed the Northern Irishman to square the ball to Jerome Thomas for a comfortable finish. If Wenger has been mistakenly loyal towards Almunia, he has been equally at fault in describing Fabianski as “world class.” The Polish keeper has earned an unfortunate yet amusing nickname in the tabloid press. In the Champions League on Tuesday, however, the Pole gave a confident performance, saving a late penalty and making an important save from Ivica Iliev shortly after.
For a club of Arsenal’s stature a goalkeeper enjoying a good game should be customary rather than remarkable. With the beleaguered Almunia suffering from an elbow injury Fabianski may look to cement his position as the club’s next No1. However his manager arguably conceded the requirement for a new goalkeeper this summer by expressing an interest in recruiting Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer. It is received wisdom that teams cannot win the league title without a world class stopper. Alan Hansen wrote in the Telegraph this week, “History has shown time and again that you need a top class goalkeeper in order to be successful.”
The esteemed Scottish pundit’s assertion may be apposite but it is difficult to imagine Petr Cech or Edwin van der Sar being left as exposed as Arsenal’s equivalents. Sunderland’s right winger Ahmed Elmohamady thoroughly exploited the weaknesses Gael Clichy in their 1-1 draw last month. The Egyptian international won 23 of the 29 challenges he contested in that match, the majority being against the French full-back. Clichy was dominated in the air and his poor clearance allowed the prolific Darren Bent to capitalise. He was additionally beaten resoundingly in the air by Brunt when Scott Carson’s goal kicks were dispersed to the right channel. On the opposite flank his colleague Bacary Sanga was equally inept, allowing Thomas to surge past him and assist the in form Odemwingie.
The team have indisputably missed the presence of Thomas Vermaelen, who as a left footed centre-back can offer aerial protection to Clichy. New signings Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny have demonstrated their capabilities but are still getting used to each other’s style. The latter failed to apply pressure on Jara on Saturday although his shot should have been effortlessly stopped. Significance may additionally be placed on the continuing absence of Cesc Fagregas. Is his presence now as crucial as Gerrard’s for Liverpool or Rooney’s for Manchester United? Nevertheless if the defence can operate coherently, communicate and deny opponents time on the ball, the goalkeeping dilemma may take care of itself. There will be no tougher test of that defensive strength than at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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