Oct 14
Over the last week, I have seen several websites reporting Wenger being interested in signing different keepers in the January transfer window. I have seen Robert Green as a target along with a keeper from Norway. Many of us believe that Lehmann is on the way out, and that Almunia while having played adequately is not a first choice keeper. I have high hopes for Fabio, but the recent news begs the question, if we are going after a keeper in the January transfer window, who do we believe would be befitting of being our #1 choice keeper?
42 Responses to “In Search of a #1”
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October 14th, 2007 at 11:04 am
paul robinson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL just joking!
i think we should have got craig gordon and fabianski in the summer and let go of lehmann last season………then we wont have this problem.
October 14th, 2007 at 11:24 am
I do believe we need a new #1. I don’t think Almunia can do the job.
My favourite was Artur Boruc, but I don’t think we’ll be going for him, now that we his understudy.
Wenger believes that Fabianski will soon be Poland #1, so he may become #1. Question is when. Next season? Don’t know.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Jussi Jaaskelainen. Experienced. Underrated. Tried and tested in EPL. And contract is running out. It’d be a good bargain signing.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I think Fabianski is the #1 of the future. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the role. Wenger will bring him along like he does all his young players; slowly but surely. It’ll be a good thing to have 2 Fab’s in the lineup when the time comes.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
however we get it must be a “safe” hand…..with no mad character traits like lehmann and almunia. people who dont talk much to the media.
personally i want almunia and lehmann gone by next summer and one or two keepers brought in to compete with fabianski. the new keeper must happily take a place on the bench without complaining.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
If Jens does not regain the starting spot soon, I am 100% sure he would leave by the January transfer window. Euro 2008 in the summer, Germany has already qualified. It’s very unlikely Jens could sit on the bench for an entire season yet still be able to play in the tournament. This is probably Jens’ last major international tournament opportunity, don’t think he’ll want to miss it.
so i believe AW will start Jens soon. ‘cos i don’t think he can afford the risk losing Lehmann in the January window. Even if we go buy a new ‘keeper in January there is no guarantee he will fit in immediately. Plus there is a chance he would be cup-tied for CL. That left only Alumnia and Fab for CL, it’s an unthinkable sceniro.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Mad Jens has got to go. He has talked too much rubbish recently. Almunia for all his decent keeping does not still make me feel too safe. Wookash is too raw, though u never know with AW.. he might put Vito Mannone on the bench for all you know and say that Wookash is ready.
If we had to get a keeper I’d love Given to come here though he does seem to be injured too often. JJ is okay but I’ve seen his form go down over the last year and he flaps at crosses a lot. Someone who can claim crosses well like Mad Jens is always better for me than a great shot stopper which many are..plus Jussi is not the tallest around. With our “poor in the air” back four and a relatively short keeper I dont know how we’d fare.
BTW while we’re at it maybe Buffon will come
October 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
How about Dida, as long as he can stay on his feet long enough!
October 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I think Almunia is underrated. He’s consistet which is all Arsenal need right now, we don’t need a keeper that makes wondersaves. So far this season the goals Almunia has conceded have been off crosses, or bad bounces, none of the them have been weak goals. In the 10 games he’s started he’s made one mistake and ironically enough didn’t give up a goal because of it. (The mistake against Tottenham, the one where Kolo made that brilliant last-stitch tackle). Anyways, Almunia will be a good goalkeeper for atleast this year. Over the summer we may want to get another goalkeeper just to be safe. I haven’t seen much of Fabianski, but he looks like he has lots of skill, so all he needs to do is mature a little and he’ll be a great keeper. if we do get a keeper it should be JJ. He’s the perfect age, and is very talented. By the time he’s gotten to be too old Fabianski will be ready to step in.
P.S. Why does everyone think Almunia needs to be replaced so soon, he hasn’t lost or drawn a game yet.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Dida is unthinkable…why do u bother mention him?
October 14th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I believe that AW will stick with Almunia for the remainder of the season - he has put his faith in him and will stick with him - that is AW’s way. Lehman will rot until January, and the Pole will remain a Carling.
Then, all bets are off in the summer.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Agree with Thompson gunner. I don’t think we will go for anyone this season. Wenger will stick with the current trio we have until summer and we will go from there. Lehman will leave and we will buy a #1 keeper. Almunia & Fabianski will fight again for the 2nd spot. ‘
If Wenger does go a keeper, I have the same opinion with Andez. Jussi might just do the job for us.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Also agree with the above but I think Lehmann will regain the jersey for this season. Apparently he was very good for Germany last night.
And in the summer - Buffon for £15m if Juve don’t make CL?
Or is that just crazy talk?
October 14th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Akinfeev or Gordon. And our very own Fabianski. That’s my list
October 14th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Fred, I’m pretty sure the reference to Dida was a joke.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
i honestly think that lehman will be gone and Almunia will remain at the # 1, i like what i see in Fabianski but hes to young, if arsene does pick one id pick green from west ham
October 14th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I think Lehman will start again this season. Jens at his best is as good as any other keeper in the league. Hopefully he is properly motivated. But how does Wenger replace Almunia when he has played fairly well? Will he wait for Almunia to make a mistake before he points Lehman back in?
Thanks to our German friends for giving Jens some practice.
And as I am writing there is another Gillette add featuring TH. Good free publicity for Arsenal. More than one of my friends have asked me, “who is that guy”. I do not tell them that he no longer plays for the team.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:22 am
So no Togo in the ANC means Ade for the whole season. Good news!
N
October 15th, 2007 at 2:14 am
I read that Lehmann performed very well against Ireland. Joachim Low, Germany’s coach, described his performance as flawless. Perhaps, the break has motivated Lehmann again (like two years back) and he will be back to his best.
I would not be surprised to see all the big guns - Lehmann, Gallas, Gilberto and Rosicky - back for the Liverpool and ManU games. I think we will need them all.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:23 am
If you look at it, Lehmann and Almunia have made the same number of mistakes this season. Lehmann vs Fulham and Blackburn. Almunia vs Tottenham (twice) - once on the goal (partly Hleb’s fault but the wall should have been positioned better) and once when Toure saved his life. Actually, if you consider that Almunia could have done a lot better on Sunderland’s second goal, you realise that he may have done more mistakes than Lehmann. But Lehmann has cost us two points and Almunia none. Does that make Almunia better? I don’t think so.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:17 am
Overall Lehmann has been a very good keeper for Arsenal, and top class in the invincibles year.
But it’s not all peaches and cream.
His nonsense at corners has long undermined the defences confidence - it’s a liability. The opposition know they can wind him up. And he isn’t exactly a top team man (whilst that in itself isn’t a major, it is a negative).
Dunno whether his costly errors at the start of this season are an abberration or whether it shows the first signs of decline.
But you’d have to think Wenger will bring him back. Almunia is putting in a good effort but I don’t really see him as the answer. And like you say Nipuna, Wenger likes to ride on the back of ‘natural’ motivators like ‘international selection’.
October 15th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Lehmann is definitely the #1 at Arsenal. I watched his performance on Saturday and he was truly flawless. To put it simple, Lehmann is a world class player and Almunia is not. Sure he talks a lot of trash but as long as he backs it up on the pitch then that’s alright with me.
Most athletes are afraid to talk themselves up because if they have a bad day then the media will devour them but others have the audacity to talk and take it as a personal challenge to go out and back it up. Deion Sanders was that way and while many people hated that about him everyone respected his ability.
Almunia’s done what you want your back-up keeper to do but he’s hardly done enough to suggest he’s better than Lehmann. His less than stellar performances have been overshadowed by good results. Keep in mind that we still haven’t played anybody big yet. Arsene Wenger knows who his best players are and has been known to rest players when they’re not on top form or not completely fit.
Being analytical, if you consider the mistakes these keepers have made, one could say that Lehmanns errors are anomolies where as Almunia’s have been down to bad goal keeping. Who can say that they’ve seen Lehmann miskick a ball or allow a ball to slip through his hands before? Exactly, and it’s not likely to happen again.
However with Almunia, his mistakes have been bad decisions covered up by teammates and good results. While I’m slightly biased towards Lehmann because of his time at Dortmund and being from the same area that my wife is from, my assesment of Almunia is based not on results but exclusively on his performances. He had a chance to prove himself, just like Ashley Cole did, but I don’t think he’s done enough. Now that Lehmann’s fit and in form again, it’s just a matter of time before he’s returned to the starting line-up.
October 15th, 2007 at 4:48 am
I forgot to say that Wenger isn’t likely to go for a keeper in January.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:21 am
@ kiwi: lehmann was not top class in the invinicilble season…..a lot of people seem to have forgotten the details of that season totally. well, i havent. he was the weakest link then. followed by a younger toure.
plus he is not just starting his decline. he has been declining since last season.
personally i dont know why wenger kept either lehmann and almunia for this season.
almunia….i have never liked, not for the same erratic reasons as lehmann, but from the fact that he just isnt that good. besides he had the chance to take the number 1 shirt in 05 but failed woefully….now he has the same chance but is rather underwhelming. plus i would never forget how he made a rather stupid comment 2 days before the CL final only for him to be an utter shambles when fate gave him an opportunity to actually play in it.
so in my view its kinda pathetic that we have these two keepers struggling for number 1. one an utter madman the other just plain “not that good”.
since we are stuck with them, i suggest the madman for the big games and the incompetent for the smaller ones.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:56 am
@ Josh, #22. Agree everything u said there.
It would be harsh if AW really decides to drop Jens for good. The two errors he committed was not like he reacted slowly to a shot, or failed to catch a cross or something. It could happen to any keeper.
I also agree with ‘keepers, it won’t harm when he has an attitude. Germany national team, the Jens Vs Kahn stuff was not something new. Germany is a footballing nation famous on producing top class ‘keepers. And from time to time they had more than one outstanding ‘keeper in the squad, and the Germans never shy away from expressing their opinions. There have been a lot of verbal wars between the German national team ‘keepers at the past. Kahn and Jens just inherted the tradition!
Important thing is, they always have that ability to back up their words.
Lehmann’s mistakes IMO are deceptive. ‘Cos they usually came with a high profile error. But plenty of other ‘keepers made far more mistakes in a match, like getting beaten at near post, or failed to come out for a cross stuffs like that, as it did not look as bad as punch a ball into his own net, so it somehow fool the fans that hey, the ‘keeper ain’t that bad.
but in truth, Jens is a foundatmental far more solid a ‘keeper than the majority of ‘keepers in the Premiership, let alone Almunia. But those things he did it right, and his main quality are not as eye-catching as a highlight film reflax save, so it often get nelegected.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:16 am
@Andez there is no doubt Mad Jens is a top top keeper on crosses and corners and shot stopping as well. I also have no problem in him bigging himself up all the time as u and Joshuad said as long as he backs it up. That IS FINE.
However I do have a problem when people slate their teammates in public and trash talk. If AW decides to sell Jens I won’t be shocked. Probably I wont even be sorry .. coz there are some things which are above performance and quality. Have you heard Gilberto say 1 word? Did you ever hear Bergy say 1 word? Model professionals — do your best when you are picked. You have a problem — speak to the boss , not to The Sun or NOTW. You DO NOT trash talk in public..its not on specially in a squad like at Arsenal — where there’s so much emphasis on team work.
I wont be surprised if AW sells Jens..whether he gets a better keeper than that is debatable though. Lets see what happens.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:46 am
I can’t understand why anyone would criticise Lehmann, he has been brilliant for Arsenal since the day he came. So he’s made some mistakes, show me a goalkeeper who has never made a few howlers? You are asking the impossible.
He was superb during the unbeaten season, and single-handedly got us to the Champions League final with his consistently incredible saves at key moments - we’d never have got there with Almunia in goal.
If he has a flaw, it’s his antics on the pitch - but for me that’s not too much of a problem. His kicking isn’t great either, Almunia’s is much better. Otherwise Lehmann has all you want from a keeper, his ridiculous self-belief is a crucial element of his durability. I’d put him straight back in because I don’t trust Almunia. We have Liverpool and Man Utd coming up, so why wait for Almunia to fuck up? I agree it would be a little harsh on him, he hasn’t done a lot wrong - he’s actually made some really good saves recently. His biggest problem is rushing out like a lunatic every now and then, yet ironically on crosses, he usually stays pinned to the goal line.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:48 am
By the way, can someone explain the image associated with this article?
October 15th, 2007 at 8:26 am
nipuna, i actually love the pic there! Bob Wilson, the legendary Arsenal ‘keeper, and our former ‘keeper coach. looks like he been searching for a new #1 for Arsenal!
October 15th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Ahh so thats who he was …. I’m ashamed of myself
October 15th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Thanks Andez. I’d heard a lot about Bob Wilson but not seen a picture.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Speaking of Bob Wilson, I remember him saying that Lehman was top top class. Couldn’t locate that particular article, but here are a few where Wilson rates Lehmann highly
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=&article=368062&cpid=&title=TV+Online:+Wilson+on+Arsenal’s+goalkeepers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713535.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4220583.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/08/24/sfnbob124.xml (this one is about Robinson, but see a little down in the article)
October 15th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Fair enough, live_don’t_exsist but understand that it’s a cultural thing with the Germans. They tell it like they see it. You never have to wonder where you stand when it comes to them. They talk loud and speak their mind.
With that, Almunia said he thought he’d done enough to keep the #1 spot. Lehmann replied by calling Almunia’s comments disrespectful and said he wasn’t worried by Almunia. Is that unprofessional? It depends on your perspective. The media asked him a question and Lehmann answered in typical German fashion. Trust me dude, it’s just the way that they talk.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Fred, off topic, but in response to your #24…..I always thought Lauren was the weakest link in Arsenal MkII.
October 15th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
nah, i got the dvds from that season…… lauren was solid as a rock….even made team of the season. lehmann cost us a lot of draws….and toure was struggling with balls in the air….but paired very well with Sol.
looking back a lot of the teams that we played that season especially in the second half might have been able to nick a point or even beat us…..if they hadnt already been beaten before they stepped on the pitch. our aura was massive then.
October 15th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Isn’t funny that Diarra is going to start for France at right back against Scotland in the place of Sagna.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
against scotland?? havent france played scotland twice already?
October 15th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
sorry, I meant Liechtenstein
October 16th, 2007 at 1:23 am
off topic…
Sabermetrics coming to football??
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2641701.ece
October 16th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Well someone mentioned it last week and now it appears that Senderos has picked up an injury. Atleast that’s what the Sky ticker said last night. Hopefully Gallas is fit as Gilberto plays in North America on Thursday night and will be awful short for Saturday.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Yeah, Arseblog reported that Senderos was injured playing for the Swiss. Gallas was on the bench vs Faroe Islands. He may feature tomorrow, so he should be ready.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I was joking about Dida, if we wanted actors/divers we should buy Cristiano Ronaldo.
I would have liked Gordon, the Scots seem to be having a football revival at the moment.