RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Backs Manuel Almunia
Experienced 'keeper gets manager's full confidence
07-Nov-2009 5:10:07 PM
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels goalkeeper Manuel Almunia needs “a few games” but is confident the Spaniard is back to his best.
A chest infection and family bereavement have kept Almunia out of the Arsenal team for 10 matches, but Wenger has been impressed with his form in victories over Tottenham Hotspur and AZ Alkmaar, despite some blaming him for the latter’s consolation goal.
"He looks back to his best,” Wenger said, according to The Guardian. “He needs a few games to get used to playing again, but I'm not worried about him."
"It gave him a good breather as well.
“I feel he had been a bit affected by the mistakes he made against Portsmouth but, overall, no, I would not have dropped him if he had not been sick."
During the 32-year-old’s absence, the Gunners’ goalkeeper shirt has been worn by Lukasz Fabianski (24) and Vito Mannone (21) but Wenger believes Almunia’s big game experience is vital.
"Confidence is very important," he added.
"That's why basically it [goalkeeper] is a position where most of the time for the big clubs, after 25 or 26, you get mature enough to play. You are not ready at 22 to take that pressure."
Tony Corbin, Goal.com UK
A chest infection and family bereavement have kept Almunia out of the Arsenal team for 10 matches, but Wenger has been impressed with his form in victories over Tottenham Hotspur and AZ Alkmaar, despite some blaming him for the latter’s consolation goal.
"He looks back to his best,” Wenger said, according to The Guardian. “He needs a few games to get used to playing again, but I'm not worried about him."
"It gave him a good breather as well.
“I feel he had been a bit affected by the mistakes he made against Portsmouth but, overall, no, I would not have dropped him if he had not been sick."
During the 32-year-old’s absence, the Gunners’ goalkeeper shirt has been worn by Lukasz Fabianski (24) and Vito Mannone (21) but Wenger believes Almunia’s big game experience is vital.
"Confidence is very important," he added.
"That's why basically it [goalkeeper] is a position where most of the time for the big clubs, after 25 or 26, you get mature enough to play. You are not ready at 22 to take that pressure."
Tony Corbin, Goal.com UK
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
1 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Liverpool's Midfield Is Equally At Fault As Their Forward Line
Though the attention tends to lean on their misfiring forwards, Liverpool's midfielders are as much at fault for their team's current position...
-
After beating AC Milan at San Siro, can Juventus now go the season unbeaten?
After a couple of years of mediocrity, the Bianconeri are in with a chance of going through an entire campaign without losing a game in either the league or the cup
-
Media shy, silently arrogant and irrationally stubborn: 5 reasons why Roman Abramovich should not be a cry baby
Calm from the outside, cranky from the inside. Goal.com's Sarthak Dubey gives a few tips to Roman Abramovich on how to handle the club's sensitive confidence levels...
-
This Week That Year - The Munich Tragedy that shocked the world of football
In yet another edition of This Week That Year, we look into all the historic footballing events in the first full week of February....
-
In Pictures: The highs & lows of Fabio Capello's England reign
Following his decision to stand down from his role as Three Lions boss on Wednesday, Goal.com takes a look at the Italian's defining moments at the helm
Advertisement
Advertisement
