For a team at the top of the Premier League who are also unbeaten in the Champions League, now might not be the best time to pose the question: Do Arsenal have a goalkeeping crisis? And for a side performing fantastically well at the moment, perhaps it is inappropriate to be looking at what I perceive to be quite a negative topic.

There is little doubt that Manuel Almunia is now first-choice goalkeeper, and I would like to concentrate on his stature before looking at Jens Lehmann. The reason it has come to the forefront of my mind (again) is Almunia's potential to allow a rush of blood to the head.

In the Steau Bucharest game on Tuesday night, were it not for Kolo Toure's quick thinking, Bucharest would have taken the lead after Almunia legged it out of his area like a cat on pills to head away what was a harmless long ball. This is not the best example of his tendency to do somewhat silly things, but it illustrates that he is much the same player he has always been throughout his time at Arsenal, an excellent shot-stopper who is not wholly reliable.

'Almunia deserves his chance after waiting in the wings, and so far he has not made any major errors'


It is not easy to find many goalkeepers who a) instal confidence into their defence; b) are excellent shot stoppers; c) do not faff around on corners; and d) do not make ridiculous decisions. But they can be found. As much as I hate to say it, Petr Cech is a phenomenal player. I don't think I have ever seen a goalkeeper as influential as Cech since Schmeichel (that's Peter not Kasper, he's rubbish) and I think Jose Mourinho agrees with me.

There is little doubt that Stephen Hunt's horrendous challenge on him cost Chelsea quite a few points last season, which is more evidence of how pivotal an excellent goalkeeper can be. Now, the Almunia fans will state that in the last nine games, the Spaniard has only conceded two goals. And I also concede that he has looked better this season than in previous years. My worry is that over the course of the whole season, will he make quite a few Robinson-style mistakes which could cost us valuable points?

The key problem is Lehmann's form in the early part of this season, meaning we do not have an obvious first-choice goalkeeper any more. I won't forget the game against Fulham for quite a while. I and my friends had a few beers before the game (it is disturbing how easily they went down at 10 in the morning) and were full of optimism for the new season. We had literally only just sat down after applauding the players onto the pitch when Lehmann made a ridiculous mistake. This could be forgiven were it not for the fact that he did it again in our next game against Blackburn. Add this to the fact that he has been prone to big errors in the past (as have many goalkeepers, admittedly) and I don't think he fills the defence with confidence.

He did, of course, have a wonderful season in 2005-6, and although he was sent off in the Champions League final, we might not have been there were it not for his penalty save against Villarreal. But sentiment aside, he looked a bit dodgy last season and of course has struggled so far this term. There is no doubting that he is an excellent goalkeeper and I truly appreciate his efforts for the club. But there comes a time when you have to discard sentiment in favour of harsh reality.

I am sure many of you are wondering why I have not suggested Lukasz Fabianski as a replacement . Well, it's simple; he is far too young. He did put in an excellent, assured performance against Newcastle in the Carling Cup, but young goalkeepers need to be eased into first-team action. Kasper Schmeichel might have received a lot of praise this season, but I think this is more to do with who his dad is rather than his actual performances which have seen him flapping at balls like a duck on vodka. (I don't know why the only metaphors I can think of are to do with animals on drugs or alcohol).

So what are the alternatives (assuming Arsene Wenger is reading this)? Well, in the short term, there is no need to do anything. Almunia deserves his chance after waiting in the wings, and so far he has not made any major errors. But I feel it is essential to buy a top-quality keeper in the January transfer window. Before long, I believe the errors will come and they will start to cost us points. I really hope I am proved wrong, as Almunia works hard in training and wants to play for the club.

One more thing on an unrelated issue. Bu*ger off Usmanov, no-one believes anything you say and you did not fall in love with the team when Wenger took charge because you would not have tried to buy Spurs if you loved the Arsenal so much.

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