It’s the 15th of August, a sunny afternoon at Anfield. 65 minutes on the clock. Arsenal have started the season well and are leading Liverpool by a goal to nil: Andrei Arshavin in the 52nd minute after some good link up play with Van Persie. Since then the Gunners haven’t threatened much and new signing Marouane Chamakh is warming up. Carragher knocks it long to Gerrard, the England midfielder finds himself in space – he attempts a shot, it’s speculative…but OH!!! WHAT A TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY FABIANSKI!!! ….
This is the nightmare scenario. And it is why when I check for Arsenal news and transfer gossip every morning, I skip past the obligatory ‘Cesc to Barca’ story and look for even the smallest hint that we are seriously looking for a new keeper.
Although we have been consistently linked with Mark Schwarzer (otherwise known as the short-term solution), I don’t think the Fulham stopper is the answer. While it is understandable Wenger doesn’t want to stifle the career of the very promising Szczesny by signing the ageing keeper, surely the boss has to see what the absence of a top class goalie has cost us in recent years. The mistakes are too numerous (and painful) to catalogue.
At this stage I’m not even looking for another David Seaman (not that there are any out there). The situation is so bad I’d settle for competence. We need a promising, highly rated young keeper, a Stekelenburg or Akinfeev. I understand Arsene isn’t playing Football Manager and he has to work within his budget. I’m happy to support a young, developing team and I’m very proud of how our club is run within its means. But if it comes to 4:00pm on 15th of August and Almunia or Fabianski lines up – I don’t think I can watch.
Article written by Mary O’Connell
Arsenal News 24/7
I completely agree with your article.
Wenger is too stubborn though to go out and get a goalkeeper. For sure, we will line up with one of those in goal.
I sincerely hope I am wrong, however time and time again Wenger lies about signings. First all our signings would be complete before the world cup, then the Emirates cup.
Well im affraid to say i think our squad for tomorrow will be with what we start with on August 15th.
Everyone else in the UK that Arsenal a missing one vital ingrediant, a world class goalkeeper and until Wenger proves me wrong I can say it might well be another unhappy season for us gooners.
Come on Arsene! The board say we have the money so one of them are lying to us. Lets get a team capable of winning a trophy at long last!
I think Wenger is right in wanting to sign Schwarzer. In my opinion, we only need a short term fix, until Szczesny is ready. Signing Akinfeev or Hart would hinder his development at Arsenal. Only my opinion though
Wenger=world class muppet!!
Pardon, wenger=world class idiot!
At Schwarzer’s age he is likely to miss alot of games through injury.
Does any sane Arsenal fan think he would throw in Szczesney in for important Champions league or Premiership games?
No he would stick with Fabianski, this guy will always flap at corners and free-kicks.
He cannot be our number two again, I believe that Schwetzer is likely to miss games through injuries, due to his age.
According to Fabianski, we are all battling hard to be no.1 (keeper ). “ALL” ? There should only be two. Mannone and Sczenesny. Has Wenger learnt nothing ? Why are Fabianski and Almunia still even at the club ?
Looks like Wenger is going to persist with these two , just so he can say ; “See. I told you they would come good. I believe in them.” It’s not just stubborness, it’s obsessive self delusion.
“In Arsene we rust”.
spot on, spot on. unfortunately i fully expect to have either alm. or flap. line up in anfield on the 15th. as a gooner i have become too accustomed to arsene’s fibs, year after year regarding transfers. sick of it at this stage. so obvious what we need but yet he becomes even more stubborn as the trophyless years pass us by. also, my drill exactly each morning …
i wathching even the slightest hint that aw will sign a gk or a defender but aw is doing nothing any interest in likes of mertesacker tasci stekelenberg akinfeev are flash in a pan if we dont winanything this season aw should go or we should do something abt it what d u think.IN WENGER WE RUST
Tasci is the latest to have been ruled out, now.Probably because Wenger wasn’t offering more than a Mars bar and a packet of crisps. All we hear about is who we aren’t signing, or are “thinking” of signing. What about actually DOING it ? Two weeks to the Liverpool match. It’s shameful neglect that we’ve left it this long.
“In Arsene we rust”.
big teams don’t wait for a young player to develop. If you are good enough you’ll make it! simple fact!
We have always waited for one player or the other to develop at the expense of other players. We once waited for senderos, djourou, denilson, song, gibbs etc Most of them have caused us one way or the other when it mattered most
if he is not going to buy a decent gk, he might as well put szcesny in goal and start his development now!
First and Last……..
Wenger is not going to sign new GK.
Worst is
Wenger is not going to sign any more player for next season.
Cin – Are we surprised ? This man is a “believer”. He believes in “his team”. He is on a megalomaniacal crusade to prove that he is right and all his many critics are wrong. He is betting everything that his win will come up on the roulette wheel. “Just one more spin, It’s gotta be my number this time”. Meanwhile all the Wenger apologists fall for his self indulgence, and will trot out the same old excuses for next year.
“In Arsene we rust”.
Jamo = Nobody
am; what a fallacious statement. Does age automatically mean that a player will be injured more often? there are so many players who are in their mid 30′s and are playing regularly e.g Giggs, Van der saar, e.t.c
@Jack Especially if Swartzer didnt miss any games last season, and played through the whole of Fulham’s Europa League campaign.
I think that the original statement was more a general point at his age than a realistic thought of his current fitness and ability.
Has anybody seen Schwarzer play, well I have being from up north and he’s terrible. Another flapper, another mistake riddled keeper.
We need a international keeper of high calibre and give schezny number 2 position (will play carling cup and probs fa cup) Wenger and the board have become a joke where transfers are concerned, they need to realise it’s the fans club not there’s! Why can’t fans have their say within the club without been told their not true fans if we don’t believe in Wengers Way
Arseblog.com
totally agree apart from schwarzer i fink he will be ideal he is very consistant, commands his box, good shot stopper, brave, has the expierence is the reason why fulham have been solid for the last two season and that his former club middlesboro got relegated once he had left!!!
get schwarzer in then get him to show szcenzy how to be a top keeper and within 2 year szcenzy will be no.1 with barca trying sign him!!!!!!!!!
I’VE TOLD MYSELF THAT IF I SEE ALMUNIA OR FLAPIANSKI BETWEEN OUR POST THIS SEASON, I WILL REFUSE TO WATCH ANY ARSENAL MATCH .
Spectrum – even if Arsenal wins a major trophy this season (while not spending anymore money) I will not beg for forgiveness. Instead I will see it as pay back for the 5 years that Wenger and /or the board put us through with his lies, deluded ambitions and lack of trophy. If a guy takes 5 years to complete a one year course – can this be counted as success ?
In Arsene we trust!!
I think Mannone is actually quite good aswell, we shud use the emirate cup to test Mannone an Szchney to see who is no 1 or no 2 then almunia as back up to them and fabianski has 2 prove him self in carling cup or fa cup.
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later