Arsenal-Mania

Almunia: I'm not taking my position for granted

By Jonathan Chong on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has said that he is not taking his current position as Arsenal's number one for granted, despite being handed the number 1 jersey for next season.

Almunia was previously using the number 24 but was almost ever-present in the Arsenal goal, replacing German international goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The Spaniard said: "The only thing that has changed this season is the number of my shirt.

"That has changed, but the situation, I hope, will not change and I can have many, many games in goal for Arsenal.

"My role in the team, I expect, will be to show myself as a good example for people around Arsenal.

"I would like to be a reference for the young players and help them as best I can. But also I want to give my all to performing for the team."

User Comments

12

jus2nang

Posted on 24 Jul, 2008 at 10:59 AM - Reply

He's not good enough, end of. Whilst all keepers make mistakes (including Lehmann & Seaman), what sets them apart is the ability to produce match-winning saves. Remember Lehmann's amazing save from Solskjaer at Old Trafford when we won 1-0 (Adebayor), also remember Seaman clawing the ball of the line against Sheff Utd in the FA Cup a few years ago.
It's saves like that, that Almunia simply is not capable of. He'll make some routine saves and make mistakes. He's not good enough for a team that wants to challenge for trophies.

11

flavio the top gun

Posted on 24 Jul, 2008 at 07:09 AM - Reply

lets give almunia his credits he deserve, he had been a good stopper last season and we failed coz of injuries to our main players. so he's not the best goalkeeper but still he can take us where we want to be yhis season .i.e champions of PL and FA. so mr. Wenger buy a CM and a CB and let us enjoy the Crowns

10

sive manana

Posted on 24 Jul, 2008 at 04:13 AM - Reply

i think he has done pretty well.i dont know what happened, i dreamnt that we signed shay givens. that would be good because we only have a number one at the moment, we need an equally good number two. the goalkeeping department can break or make a team. sive, swaziland

9

Shen

Posted on 24 Jul, 2008 at 04:10 AM - Reply

He is a decent keeper, and more importantly brings colour to the team. Might I add he is also very loyal to Arsenal. Give the bloke another chance, he might be the surprise package...

8

jimmie

Posted on 24 Jul, 2008 at 01:03 AM - Reply

I do think Lehman gave us good service-crazy as he was at times-but he made mistakes like all keepers.They were,unfortunately in key games.....champs league final-who will ever know what might have been? I think on the whole,Almunia is 'acceptable' and hasnt done too bad for us.Czech is reckoned to be around the best but look at the mistakes he made last year.He will make the odd mistake but I reckon Almunia has ability and good seasons in him...hope so anyway!!!Good season ahead

7

nasir

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 09:19 PM - Reply

well, all keepers make mistakes look at van der sar........... almunia needs time and i think fabianki will be brilliant...... i think we shud buy jo hart......?????

6

scott

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 07:32 PM - Reply

Bale's goal at the near post... shouldnt of been able 2 score there

5

RVPMPC

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 05:03 PM - Reply

I honestly can't think of a single mistake (besides C Ronaldo's goal last year) that cost us a goal, let alone any points. Care to help me out?

4

Tonino

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 04:24 PM - Reply

Seaman rulzz...!!! we need goalkeeper that is similar to him ><

3

Jack

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 01:53 PM - Reply

I think that he's done fairly well after a terrible start. He now has valuable experience of playing in the Premier League. Its all very well spending big to sign a 'name' keeper but without that specific Premier League experience, it would still be a gamble. Mind you, its still a pity that Buffon didnt want to come a couple of years ago.

2

Tony Michael

Posted on 23 Jul, 2008 at 11:29 AM - Reply

Of all the positions in the team this should be the position where we go all out and spend big because since Seaman, we havent had a goalkeeper that can ease my nerves