Champions League
Venue: Stadion FK Partizan Date: Tuesday 28 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, on BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports 4
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will miss Tuesday's Champions League trip to Partizan Belgrade with an elbow injury.
Almunia, who was at fault for two goals as the Gunners lost 3-2 at home to West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, will be replaced by Lukasz Fabianski.
"The whole squad was very low after the weekend but I believe we will play well on Tuesday," said boss Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners are still without Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie, all out with injuries.
Full-back Kieran Gibbs will undergo a fitness test on Monday before the Arsenal squad flies out to Belgrade.
Arsenal started their European campaign with a 6-0 home win against Braga and Wenger, who says he would not have dropped Almunia had he been fit, is looking for a quick response to Saturday's calamitous defeat.
"There is always an easy target, an easy scapegoat," added the Gunners manager. "But I believe we win together and we lose together.
"Even if people think Manuel made a mistake on the second goal, we made a few before that as well as a team, so we all have to stand up for what happened.
"Manuel is very low, he was disappointed to have lost the game. Everyone felt the same, because we had a good opportunity and we didn't take it.
"But we are a good side and we will bounce back and I think we will have a good game in Belgrade."
Partizan, who lead the Serbian championship, drew 0-0 with Spartak Subotica on Sunday having lost their first game in the group stage of the Champions League 1-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk.
They will be looking to Serbian international midfielder Sasa Ilic and Brazilian-born striker Cleo to do the damage at the Stadion FK Partizan.
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9036382.stm
Monday, September 27, 2010
George Graham – Be realistic, Arsenal need a new keeper
The ex-Arsenal manager George Graham thinks it is obvious that the Gunners are not going to be good enough to challenge for the top honours unless they replace Manuel Almunia with a top-class goalkeeper, and he doesn’t think they should just be looking at Mark Schwarzer.
Graham said: “I think if you’re going to really be realistic challengers for the Premier League you need a top, top-class goalkeeper.
“I think Almunia is a good goalkeeper but there’s about half a dozen good goalkeepers in the Premier League.
“Arsenal need an outstanding goalkeeper. I think they should be looking all round the world, not just in England or Europe.”
The rumours about new goalkeepers are starting to return already, with yesterday’s story about Wenger bidding for Liverpool’s Pepe Reina. I also read the other day that the Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama is in the last eight months of his contract. Can you guess which one I think he will go for!
From justarsenal.com
Graham said: “I think if you’re going to really be realistic challengers for the Premier League you need a top, top-class goalkeeper.
“I think Almunia is a good goalkeeper but there’s about half a dozen good goalkeepers in the Premier League.
“Arsenal need an outstanding goalkeeper. I think they should be looking all round the world, not just in England or Europe.”
The rumours about new goalkeepers are starting to return already, with yesterday’s story about Wenger bidding for Liverpool’s Pepe Reina. I also read the other day that the Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama is in the last eight months of his contract. Can you guess which one I think he will go for!
From justarsenal.com
Wenger now seriously considering spending BIG money on new keeper
The Arsenal fans cannot be too happy with Wenger and his first choice keeper Manuel Almunia after the latter had committed another stunt of his yesterday against West Brom at The Emirates, costing his side the game.
The Gunners fans are all fuming with one persistent question in mind: How much longer before ‘the boss’ realizes Arsenal are winning nada with Almunia guarding their net?
In fact even the Gunners former boss George Graham said that, and it’s now Wenger’s call to bring in a ‘top class’ keeper next January.
“I think if you’re going to really be realistic challengers for the Premiership you need a top top class goalkeeper,” Graham said in Five Live’s Sportsweek programme. “I think Almunia is a good goalkeeper, but there’s about half a dozen good goalkeepers in the Premier League. I think Arsenal need an outstanding goalkeeper.
“I think they should be looking all round the world, not just in England or Europe.”
However, contrary to Graham’s advise, Wenger IS looking in Europe, and precisely in England too, as he intends to up the bid on Liverpool’s Pepe Reina in hopes to lure the Spaniard out of Anfield by next January, according to the News of the World.
Wenger initially offered £15m for Liverpool to let go of their keeper, and is hoping Liverpool’s financial problems will force them to accept the cash when he comes back for another visit, especially if he tosses in £3-5m more.
From footylatest.com
The Gunners fans are all fuming with one persistent question in mind: How much longer before ‘the boss’ realizes Arsenal are winning nada with Almunia guarding their net?
In fact even the Gunners former boss George Graham said that, and it’s now Wenger’s call to bring in a ‘top class’ keeper next January.
“I think if you’re going to really be realistic challengers for the Premiership you need a top top class goalkeeper,” Graham said in Five Live’s Sportsweek programme. “I think Almunia is a good goalkeeper, but there’s about half a dozen good goalkeepers in the Premier League. I think Arsenal need an outstanding goalkeeper.
“I think they should be looking all round the world, not just in England or Europe.”
However, contrary to Graham’s advise, Wenger IS looking in Europe, and precisely in England too, as he intends to up the bid on Liverpool’s Pepe Reina in hopes to lure the Spaniard out of Anfield by next January, according to the News of the World.
Wenger initially offered £15m for Liverpool to let go of their keeper, and is hoping Liverpool’s financial problems will force them to accept the cash when he comes back for another visit, especially if he tosses in £3-5m more.
From footylatest.com
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