Keeper needs to be on Wenger’s summer shopping list

This week we again experienced Arsenal underachieving. This time it was in Europe. Although Gunners boss Arsene Wenger refused to blame his young keeper Lukasz Fabianski, it was obvious that the youngster has to take some of the blame for Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Porto.

A complete clanger for the first goal and then shown a lack of experience to concede the second goal.

Inexperienced

I know people will say that Fabianski is young and that’s true. The youngster still has a lot to learn and maybe with a few more years of experience he may be worthy of a place in the Gunners starting-up.

Unconvincing

He may only be the back-up keeper but first choice stopper Manuel Almunia is not convincing either. The Spaniard has always been too erratic for me. He has made some bad mistakes as well and doesn’t seem to command the confidence of his defenders. Defenders need to have confidence in the man behind them or they are constantly nervous.

Almunia has been spoken of as a prospective England goalkeeper, after spending the required time in England. I have my doubts over whether he is good enough to play for Arsenal never mind England.

Lehmann

Arsenal have had a lot of goalkeepers in the past few years. The so called ‘Invincibles’ had the eccentric Jens Lehmann. He may have been as mad as the Shakhtar Donetsk players after being turned down at Harrods front door but he was quite a reliable keeper. He wasn’t the world’s best keeper but strong enough to give his defence some confidence.

Experience

The top goalkeepers in the Premier League have bags of experience. You look at some of the top keepers and they have one thing in common, their defences can trust them. Shay Given, Brad Friedel and Edwin Van der Sar are three of the most reliable keepers in the league and they have won their sides so many points in the past.

Arsenal need a keeper who can win them games and points. For me Almunia rarely does that for his side and Fabianski is a liability at times. Arsenal had been linked with a move for Manchester City’s Shay Given when he was with Newcastle, but a move never materialised. City however moved in and signed the Republic of Ireland international.

Scouting

Arsene Wenger needs to use his extensive scouting network to find a more reliable keeper. If it’s one thing that Wenger is good at its picking a player. Unfortunately he hasn’t had the same eye for a keeper as he has for outfield players.

Options

Arsenal have been linked with a move for French keeper Hugo Lloris of Lyon. The 23 year-old is a highly rated keeper, who despite his relative young age has good experience. He is also a countryman of Wenger. Wenger must know all about the young keeper and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a summer move.

A name that hasn’t been mentioned but who I believe would be a good signing is Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa. The 24 year-old currently playing for Mexican side Club America is agile, a good leader and made his club debut at just 18.

He went to the 2006 World Cup but didn’t make an appearance. He is widely regarded as one of best up and coming keepers in the world. Ochoa has already played nearly 200 times at club level and will be Mexico’s number one in June’s World Cup.

Nicknamed ‘Memo’ Ochoa has already been linked with moves to Manchester United, Real Zaragoza and Paris Saint-Germain. His contract is also nearing the end of his contract with his Mexican side. He would be an ideal signing for any side requiring a reliable keeper. (I’m not his agent honestly!)

Apology

I must apologise to all the Arsenal fans out there as I seem to keep highlighting your team’s weaknesses. It’s not meant out of malice or out of a disliking of your side. I just think with a few minor tweaks your team could be great again and the quicker that happens the better.