I just can’t take Almunia seriously anymore and have simply run out of patience with his constant nonsense.
A Majority of the Arsenal faithful will not want to see the Spaniard guarding the goal again this season following his latest comical gaffe, and I full heartedly agree with those who share this view.
So, should Almunia be axed for the remainder of the season for the returning Jens Lehmann? I believe so.
However, despite the goalkeeping howler on Saturday afternoon, Arsene Wenger appears to be keeping faith with Almunia after recently claiming that the 41-year-old German is far from being match-fit. According to The Daily Mail, the Frenchman said:
‘He (Lehmann) looks like a guy who’s not been involved for a long time but has kept his body fit. He has the basic physical fitness but he lacks a little bit of decision-making and practice in goal.’
Wenger finished off by saying:
‘Would I consider starting him? I’m not going to get into that now, we now have two weeks.’
Although Wenger maybe correct about Lehmann’s fitness levels, I cannot take his ‘decision making’ claim about the German seriously, especially when the Frenchman puts trust in Almunia, who seems to have been suffering from decision making diarrhoea over the past 2-3 seasons.
Even though Lehmann hasn’t played a competitive match since March 8th 2010, I truly believe the former Stuttgart goalkeeper can do no worse than Manuel Almunia.
So with that being said, I would definitely drop Almunia and grant Lehmann his first appearance for the Gunners since 2008 against Blackburn on April 2nd at the Emirates. As for the German playing the last 9 games of the season, well in my opinion it all depends on how he performs against Blackburn…if Wenger starts him of course.
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I think Lehmann should be starting in favour of Almunia. Almunia is absolutely rubbish and needs to be dropped, he keeps on making mistakes which cost us games. Wenger says Lehmann decision making isn’t there yet, well I would agrue that Almunia has been at Arsenal for 7 years and his decision making is still not there. He is absolutely rubbish. I think Lehmann should start from now till the end of the season, for a couple reasons:
1. He is better than Almunia.
2. If Van Der Sar can do it then I’m sure Lehamann can
3. He is a great keeper and knows what it takes to win and I’m sure he would inspire the team.
4. He is the legendary invincible keeper.
5. I know he hasn’t played for a year but I’m sure he can’t do any worse than Almunia
I would start him but I know Wenger won’t and I’m sure Almunia will play the next premier league game. Oh well we’ll either draw or lose that game with him in goal.