Over the years we've always been linked with Newcastle's Shay Given. He is a great keeper and at 32 is approaching the right age for a goalkeeper to peak.
I can see why we are linked with him, the obvious reason being that Jens has left the club. But I really can't see it happening.
Le Boss has many a time spoke of Manuel Almunia earning the right to be Arsenal's number 1. If Given came to us, surely he would expect to be number 1 after being a the main keeper at Newcastle all these years.
We need to add a keeper to the squad, that is certain, but I don't think it will be Given. We need competition and Given would provide that, but either keeper wouldn't be happy with sitting on the bench.
It could also block Fabianski's progress to the first team. And Fabianski could become a great keeper.
I think Le Boss will sign an experienced keeper who maybe happy with a squad place. A number 2. Someone who is approaching the twilight of his career.
Answering my own question, if I'm honest, I like Almunia and he has improved greatly from his early days at the club. But I feel that Given is the better of the two. I still reckon that Jens should have been number 1 last season.
I'm not criticizing Almunia here, he did well last season, but I just felt Jens was the better of the pair. The same as I'd feel if Given DID sign for us. So I would prefer Given.
Sorry Manuel!!
Keep it Goonerish..........
41 comments:
100% almunia. he can be our next lehman, give him time it was his first year (playing regularly).
How do their OPTA stats compare?
I used to rate Given, but dont really like him at the moment, would rather have Almunia.
But then I rather have Boruc, Buffon or even Gudicini.
I would choose Given
As it's Fathers day I let my Dad out of his cage and asked him what he thought.
That was his exact answer.
Lehmann was the better keeper out of all three, and probably still is.
I'm not really sure Almunia or Given are the answer to be honest. It's hard to choose a suitable keeper becuase they've all got a mistake in them!!! Maybe Robert Green, but I've seen him have very bad games.
www.arsenal-opinion.com
how can anyone think Almunia is a quality goaly worthy of Arsenal. Fkin joke he was ahead of Lehman last year. Wenger in one of his Stubborn moods. How many other prem goalies would he get ahead of. Enough said, sort it out Wenger!
manuel almunia is the worst 1st choice goalie i have seen at arsenal in my 35 yrs of supporting the club he is a joke, how anyone can say they prefer him to any decent keeper is beyond me,
akinfeev of russia anyone???
but surely fabianski should be played more often to get him the experience or even loan him out for a first team place only in the premiership.
at last someone with some sense (mr surge). I was beginning to think all arsenal fans had become wenger clones who think whatever side he picks is right. I still believe Wengers stubborness last season cost us massively. At the highest level Almunia will let us down again and again which he has proven. Look at the first equlaiser against Liverpool at Anfield. Ball running out harmlessly for a goal kick, he rushes out to kick it and scuffs it for a throw. Little things like that just wind me up. We all know the likes of Almunia, Eboue etc are just not good enough yet we have to be put throw seeing that shite time and time again. Lehamn had every right to be pissed off.
I don't really get the Almunia criticism?
The worst first team keeper in 35 years? He didn't put a foot wrong last year. He never drops a cross, he is a good shot stopper... his quick distribution allows us to break quicker than before.
I'd stick with Almunia.
Honestly, I want neither.
Given is an average Goly; so is Almunia. Plus, Given is not tall enough. We need a dynamic goly (Frey of Fiorentina or Russian Keeper, Akeefiyev).
Almunia is not a winning goal keeper; that's why I don't like him. But he is far better keeper than Given.
like I said how many other other prem
goalies would he get ahead of. Not alot. He is not imposing enough.
On a side not tennis is wank. You can shove it up your arse.
Joe Hart would be my choice.
Given has not been right for 2 years since that stomach injury and has subsequently been very prone to niggles.
And the muppet that says he is the worst keeper in 35 years - did you see John Lukic? Or Seaman in his last 2 years? Or are you just a cunt?
Ridiculous! Almunia is TERRIBLE...makes every simple save look amazing but every good shot goes in, can't hold onto a ball, lost us the champions league final...!
Lehmann is a legend, up there with Seaman and Wilson...
Shay Given would be a GREAT signing...snap him up!
Out of the two I would go for Given, Almunia just doesn't inspire confidence. That said I would prefer not to have either and go for a goalie that's up there with the best. The trouble is that once Arsene Wenger decides to stick with someone, that person stays for a long time, even if he is crap!
Given average?!?!? He's been one of the best keepers in the premiership! He is far better than Almunia. Almunia is just a shot stopper and inspires no confidence. Would have loved Arsenal to sign Given 4 years ago but I'd prefer to see a keeper being brought in who will be first choice for the next 10 years. Hart or Kirkland please
AZZA...the only c@@t mate is you. Lukic was a better goaly and as for you comparing Alumnia to Seaman...well you just proved youself a cunt then and there.
almunia is ok but we need a tall top class shot stopper and he is not it. we need a keeper of same standerd of a david james or peter check.almunia is a good keeper but not a world class keeper, you knowsooner or later he will slip up at some time, i would keep him but i would not go with given we need 3 keepers. we are top class team if you look at chelsea and manu they top world class keepers.
ccc; Haha! I see you're being your usual cheery self!
Almunia is average at best. He was a lot better than I thought he would be, but that is still a far cry from a number 1 keeper for any so-called big club.
That equaliser at Anfield that ccc mentioned is exactly the kind of stuff he did all season long. HE was at fault for their goal, yet Senderos got all the stick.
He never makes outstanding saves; the free kick at Brum, Drogba's effort at the Bridge, etc etc...
Given is loads better. Last season Eboue and Hoyte both signed new deals, only for Wenger to go and get the amazing Sagna, so he may well still go for a Keeper.
well said Spike...I agree...as for being my usual cheery self, you say it as if you know me!
However you did mention the E word. Eboue....there can be too many other Arsenal players I have disliked more. I think fair enough back up to Sagna but as for the main man on our right midfield - disgraceful. Wenger cant be wrong though.
Just seen some of your posts on here before going off on one mate!
I dont even wanna consider the thought of Eboue 'playing' on the right side of midfield next season. Wenger persisited with him for almost the whole of the season, it didnt work, he was useless, yet he tries to make out he is as good as Parlour???
Why the fuck didnt he give pennant, Bentley that kind of playing time? I know they are 2 odious twats, but they'd be better than effin Eboue.
Hi Pedro mate
I totally disagree with your Almunia has great distribution comment.
Goalkeepers are there for saving goals any keeper can throw or kick the ball to an out field player who can do the job.
You also said he made no mistakes, yet every game we played he made lots of them. We had to score more than one and even more than two goals last season to draw or win.
The Mancs won the league not because of the winker but because the best keeper at the Euros, Van Der Sar is their keeper.
Azza you dipstick, why call a guy a cunt because you don't like his comment.
I also think Coco the fucking clown is the worst keeper I have seen at Arsenal in more than 30 years, yes even Richard Wright was better.
Seaman was average at the end of his career and AW should have got rid of him earlier.
You can go on all you like about CB's and DM's but it will be a waste as long as this joke is in our goal.
I don't have the stats but I bet his goals to shots saved ratio is shit. He is paid to save shots and the fiction that he is a good shot stopper is laughable or a crying shame in my case.
Aluminium is not really great. If he is, he should be playing for Spain in Euro now, but he's not. He isn't commanding in the box. The reason why he's first choice was that Wenger was stubborn and dislike lehman.
Alumia is not really a great keeper. If he is, he should be playing for Spain in Euro now, but he's not. He isn't commanding in the box. The reason why he's first choice was that Wenger was stubborn and dislike lehman. Lehman always speaks his mind and was too outspoken for wenger. The same way he challenger Kahn for Germany's keeper position, he did it with alumia. It's really puzzling that arsenal as a really top club in the world does not have a world class keeper like those of rivals manure and chelski.
Jens was a legend at the ARSENAL. He was a big part of the invincibles.
The defence felt comfortable with him there.
Did anyone remember the spat he had with Kolo ? for me that was when AW decided to punish Jens, Aw is clever and put him in but 2 mistakes and that was it.
Can anyone check out the clean sheets we had last year and work out who was the keeper when we had any.
It could surprise a fair few people.
I think almunia is not good enough #1. He has been beaten at the near post so many times including the C.L Final.We need a keeper to inspire cofidence in the defence.Although he is small in stature Given is a better keeper but i would be worried about his fitness.My choice would be Boruc
Almunia, 89,95 minutes per match. The rest can Given play, when it comes to non-possible saves.
almunia is a good keeper
but he is no the type of keeper who will win you matches like lehmann would do.
a great example is the save lehmann made from solskjaer last season when we beat united at old trafford
get joe hart.
almunia..just our defend is fuck especially gallas...
Lehmann was a great keeper in the invincable year..
If he had of had that spat with Robbie Keane any earlier in the game at WHL and we may of lost the game and imagine the embaressment of going all season unbeaten until we play the spuds.
Why was Almunia playing last year?
given isnt that good, he just always plays brilliantly against arsenal.
Almunia over that guy any day
I agree with most of the comments on here: Almunia is ok, but he is not up to the number one spot. Of all the so called top 4 clubs we definitely have the least effective goalie.
Spike...you think the same as me and most sane arsenal fans I think. I think the general gist here is that Almunia is a good championship goaly not prem class. What annoys me is that Gordon is at Sunderland. Again another british player who is top class who we could of had.
I would get shot of...Almunia, Eboue,
Bendtner, Denilson, Silva to start with. Im not sure totally about Bendtner as I think he might have something about him. But he comes across as far to cocky bollocks to me. As for 32M for Adebayor - snap their bloody hand off!!
pedro and azza no need to cunt me off because you don't agree with me how dare you compare seamo to almunia azza are you drunk and john lukic won us 2 championships in goal so until manuel wins us any sort of trophy i would not be so ready to slate lukic
here here mr surge..well said
Mr serge only one championship. really, he was third keeper in 1998 and never played.
Never compare almunia with given, they are quite different. Almunia should remain our first choice man.
Why not compare one goalkeeper to another, they maybe different but they have to play by the same rules?
Given is the best keeper the premiership has seen. Period. Almunia was the worst last season.
Bergs
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