The former Gunners keeper is excited about the prospect of Arsene Wenger building a new side for next season after bidding farewell to some of their top stars
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is looking forward to watching how Arsene Wenger builds a new side ahead of the club's upcoming Premier League campaign, which gets underway in just under two weeks.Almunia left the club on June 30 after the Gunners released him from his contract, and he has since moved to Watford, where he has replaced Scott Loach as its first-team goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s apparent reluctance to spend money during transfer windows has been a source of much controversy, but Almunia is confident Wenger can bring in young talent and see them shine.
"As a player at Arsenal, it is hard to see the best players go to other clubs every year. They have missed a lot of great players in the last few years,” Almunia told the Sunday Mirror.
"The first year I came to England, I thought 'Oh, I'm going to win a lot of things with Arsenal' but the change then started. The club has been changing every year."
The arrival of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud is an encouraging start, according to Almunia, but they won’t cover for the loss of Robin van Persie if he does leave the Emirates this summer.
"One of these years, everything has to come together and be perfect, and now is the time for Arsenal," Almunia said. "They've signed some good players this year, Santi Cazorla is fantastic."
Wenger’s side play its last friendly of preseason against Bundesliga outfit Koln next Sunday, with the Gunners taking on Sunderland in the Premier League a week later.
Follow GOAL.COM USA on
