Almunia Sinks Arsenal

Manuel Almunia at the Beach

Arsenal: 2 vs. West Bromwich Albion: 3

Odemwingie 50

Jara 52

Thomas 70

Nasri 75

Nasri 90






To be honest there isn't much to say about the loss to West Brom other than things need to be fixed quickly. I'm not really going to go into the match either as for the duration of the game we produced nothing. We failed to make any sort of mark on an excellent Baggies side that managed to out pass us in our own stadium. West Brom's commitment and hunger led them to three points they certainly weren't counting on. Improbably the midlands club now is a mere point off our total. This season is going to be quite difficult.

I'll address the most glaring issue first, goalkeeping. While I know it won't happen and our beleaguered Spanish keeper will probably be in the sticks for the Partizan game, Manuel Almunia should never play for Arsenal again. It is with out question the worst display by a keeper I have ever seen. The only reason our humiliation wasn't greater is that Almunia managed to save a penalty he had conceded. The first goal was Sagna getting out muscled to the byline and the center of the defense not reacting quick enough. The second goal was the blunder of the game as Jara was set free down the right, he out paced our defense and hammered it at the keeper. Almunia managed to get a hand to it but let it slip in the near post which was barely a yard of space. It reminded me of the Champions League final, poor beyond belief and simply there was no way back in it after that. Their third goal should have been pounced on the out rushing Almunia but he hesitated for a moment and let the West Brom player get the ball back across goal. I definitely think that the penalty set it all off, his timing and judgment to come out for it was off. Self doubt took hold then and you could see that every time he made a move for the ball.

Analysis at this point is useless and the rightful conclusion is that he simply cannot play at this level. Almunia has cost us an easy 10 points each of the last three seasons, how can a manager like Wenger just not see it? It also must be said that the only reason he got into the team was because of an aging and erratic Jens Lehmann. Almunia had one decent season and that is not something that anyone should be able to live off of for so long. The only thing more frightening than Almunia in goal is the fact that Fabianski is our second choice. I find it curious that we should find ourselves so bitterly exposed so early on by teams that shouldn't be able to. I think it ridiculous that we managed to spend an entire summer transfer window without making any serious bids for a keeper. Goalkeepers, well good ones, can move you up the table. You just have to look at clubs like, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Man United and Everton for evidence. We of course now find ourselves in the position of not being able to go outside the club for the solutions until the new year. Can Mannone keep us in the race til then? I fear it may be to late by then. In any case the changes need to be rung in. If anything just for the appearance that mistakes such as those on Saturday will not be tolerated.

I of course don't want to give the impression that the entire match was Almunia's fault. Just mostly. With the injuries piling up and the fact that the games are so close together Arsene has been forced to rotate the squad. The all action hero of mid week Jack Wilshere made way for the returning Abou Diaby. The effect was most detrimental. I have a friend who is a big Diaby fan and occasionally I can see where he is coming from. There are however too many days to the contrary in which the fight gets heavy and the hole deep and Diaby seems to give up. When you go down at home you need the middle of the park to pick up the tempo of the game. The recognition of urgency needs to be relayed through the spine of the team. What we got instead was blank stares and listlessness. Absurdly I thought Jack Wilshere and 18 year old boy was going to come on and rescue the team. Wilshere did manage to inject a bit more movement and physicality but it was to no avail. The late show put on by Nasri was too little far too late. In a small way I'm glad that the team wasn't rescued by a draw and the harsh reality about the team's commitment be looked at. The whole team needs to develop a winning attitude not just Cesc, Van Persie and Vermaelen. Injuries to any of those players is inevitable so it is not a valid excuse.

So away to Partizan Belgrade is up next. A game that I think will test this team at the moment. Our tiredness and our current lack of real depth means that it will be a tight game, perhaps decided by the odd, perhaps solitary goal. However it comes though, a win is crucial to entering the weekend in a positive frame of mind as the clash with Chelsea looms.