Being an Arsenal supporter these days is a frustrating experience. The lack of activity in recent transfer windows has helped to make the club a bunch of nearly men – they nearly bought some players and they nearly won some trophies. This summer, the Gunners have been linked with a number of targets, raising optimism among the club’s faithful support once again, with the number one target expected to be a new number one.
Arsene Wenger should be breaking the bank to bring in a top-class goalkeeper, especially considering the many high-profile errors that have occurred in the past two seasons. While all three main keepers at the Emirates are capable of making world-class saves, each one can also flap at crosses like a seal dancing to ‘YMCA’.
Wenger appears to have lost confidence with Manuel Almunia, with the Spaniard reduced to bit-part appearances last season. Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny are both worth a lot of points in Scrabble, but the Polish duo have also cost Arsenal quite a few points at various times. An unbelievable howler from the latter in the last minutes of the Carling Cup final was enough to hand Birmingham City a much-needed trophy last February.
While Wenger has enjoyed some justifiable praise for many of his signings, especially considering the relatively low amount of money that the Frenchman has spent, he does not appear to be a good judge of goalkeepers. Jens Lehmann was at times excellent, but his eccentricity often led to serious issues. The bottom line, really, is that Wenger has never really adequately replaced David Seaman. While Arsenal’s rivals have enjoyed extended runs from tried and tested keepers, such as Edwin van der Sar, Pepe Reina and Petr Cech, the North London side have had to make do and mend somewhat.
So this summer begs the question: who is the right man for Arsenal? There have been many names mentioned in recent weeks, but as always, if every link was correct then Wenger would have a squad of around a hundred players. The club remain tight-lipped as ever about transfer speculation, so fans won’t hear from them until the moment a posh gold pen is in contact with a lucrative contract.
There have been several names in the frame in recent weeks, although as yet none have been confirmed as transfer targets. Sunderland’s Craig Gordon has been mooted. The former Hearts number 1 is a big lad and an excellent shot-stopper, and has 40 Scotland caps to his name. Gordon signed for the Wearside club in 2007, so he knows his way around the English game.
One name that was originally linked with Arsenal was David de Gea, the Atletico Madrid keeper. However, he now seems to be heading for Old Trafford, so it may be that the conjecture was nothing more than just that. Aged just 20, he may prove to be a mainstay in the Manchester United side for many years to come.
Liverpool’s excellent net-protector Pepe Reina was rumoured to be on the verge of a move to the Emirates earlier in the year, although this trail has now gone cold. After the re-emergence of the club under Kenny Dalglish, the Spaniard is reportedly happier at Anfield now and has pledged his immediate future to the Reds.
Another name in the frame was Italy’s six-cap international Emiliano Viviano, who currently plays for Bologna. The keeper is six feet five inches tall, and may be the right man to repair Arsenal’s reputation for fragility at the back. But if he signs for the Gunners, will he be able to cope with Rory Delap’s throw-ins on a freezing Tuesday night in Stoke-on-Trent?
Whoever does get the nod, assuming Arsene Wenger does decide to open the chequebook, will need to be consistent enough to cope with the pressure. The first mistake will no doubt be greeted with howls of derision from the assembled media, so he can be sure of a rough ride when that day comes.
