Arsenal experience crisis in goal

Things just seem to be going from bad to worse for Arsenal at the moment. First of all the Gunners lose what seemed to be an extremely winnable Carling Cup final to Birmingham, perhaps the most shocking result in recent years in the competition, then an earlier than expected exit from the Champions League at the hands of a vastly superior Barcelona side.

With Arsenal also slipping to a draw against Sunderland last weekend in the Premier League despite really needing all three points to keep up the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table, the last thing the Gunners need now is more bad news. Unfortunately, though, that is exactly what they’ve received, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny set to be left on the sidelines now for six weeks with a dislocated finger. The Arsenal betting tips suggest they could struggle without him.

The Arsenal first choice goalkeeper picked up the injury in the clash against Barcelona whilst saving a free kick from the boot of Dani Alves, and his spell on the sidelines is sure to cause Arsene Wenger a massive headache in light of the fact that second choice ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski won’t play again this season after undergoing shoulder surgery, Vito Mannone, who is on loan at Hull, is set to miss six weeks of action with a thigh problem, and third choice Manuel Almunia is unreliable and seems to have a couple of attitude problems to put it nicely.  The rumour mill has linked Arsenal with a new keeper for some time, and they may be forced to move now.

Wenger will hope that the Premier League grant the club permission to bring in a goalkeeper with the level of league and European experience that a club like Arsenal need to be able to challenge on all fronts. If this fails to occur, though, the critics will once again round on Wenger and call for an immediate change in personnel in the hot-seat at the Emirates.

Reina looking to move on

It has been widely speculated in the media that Pepe Reina will use his side’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League as an opportunity to push through a move away from the club he joined in 2005, and that his chosen destination will be either Old Trafford or the Emirates. The truth is that with the strong rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United – still clearly in existence following this weekend’s derby – coupled by the return of Kenny Dalglish to the Anfield hot-seat would make it very unlikely that Reina will become the first player to move directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall in 1964.

So then, it would seem that Arsenal are the more likely team to take advantage of the change in fortunes of the Merseyside club, and all the signs are that it would be a marriage made in Heaven. Arsenal fans will be well aware that a top-drawer goalkeeper has been top of Arsene Wenger’s wish-list ever since David Seaman left, and despite playing in Liverpool side which has often been said to be struggling, Reina has proved himself just that by being their most consistent performer for the last five years and he has been highlighted in many an Andy Gray podcast.

Reina insists that he just wants to play at the highest level and to be vying for trophies “like any other player”, but if that’s so then a move to one of Europe’s other top sides would be far more palatable for the Liverpool fans, rather than to see him leave for one of their domestic rivals. There is even talk that he wants a clause removed from any contract which would restrict his choice of destination before he’ll even begin to think about signing an extension and the football transfer rumours suggest he is on his way out.

The bottom line is that the shoe clearly fits for both parties: guaranteed Champions League football under Wenger’s sustainable football model for the Spaniard, and a top-class keeper to help Arsenal in their push for regular silverware – the only question mark may be over his wage demands as Wenger insists on keeping to a strict budget, regardless of the grandeur of the signing in question. But with Dalglish so brazenly opening the door for Torres to move to Chelsea by insisting that he only wants players at his disposal that truly want to play for the club, watch this space.

Szczesny suffers dislocated finger against Barca

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny suffered a dislocated finger in last night’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

The Polish keeper suffered the injury attempting to save a Dani Alves free-kick early in the first half and was replaced by Spanish keeper Manual Almunia, who pulled off a string of impressive saves in the face of an impressive Barcelona attacking performance.

Manager Arsene Wenger said he did not know how long Szczesny would be side-lined for. He said: “We have to check the tendon to see how much treatment it will need. We don’t know yet”.

The goalkeeping position has been a headache for Wenger this season, but looked to have settled on Szczesny, who played against the Spanish league leaders in the first leg game two weeks ago. Now the Frenchman will be forced to rely on Almunia after Lukasz Fabianski was recently ruled out after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier in the year, and has few options for an understudy should Alumina get injured.

An emergency loan may be an option if the situation worsens, but Wenger will be reluctant to add to his squad at such a late stage of the season and would require special permission from the Premier League. One possible option worth placing a free bet on is the recall of Vito Mannone, who is currently on loan at Hull.

His goalkeeping worries was just one of many headaches as Arsenal’s season, which threatened to end their six year trophy-less run, looks to be slowly coming undone. Having lost to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final last month, his side were dumped out of the Champions League last night by Barcelona having taken a 2-1 lead to the Nou Camp. Lionel Messi bagged a brace while Xavi rounded off a wonderful passing move to put the Gunners to the sword.

Free bets put them as underdog’s to succeed against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the next round of the FA Cup, and they currently lay three points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with a game in hand.

Sorensen in talks with Stoke over new deal

Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen is in talks with boss Tony Pulis over a contract extension to keep him at the club.

The Danish international moved to the club in 2008 and has played and established himself as their first choice keeper in their maiden season in the Premier League.

But he lost his starting place to Asmir Begovic and hasn’t played in the Premier League since October, but Pulis is keen to keep hold of the former Villa keeper. He said: We’re talking with Thomas now to try and get another contract sorted out,” Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke.

“He’s keen to get something done. We’ve spoken to his agent and the club will try and get something sorted out.”

The Potters can also call on the service of former Chelsea shot-stopper Carlo Nash.

Sorensen has played in the last four of Stoke’s FA Cup ties as he looks to fight his way back into the first team and Pulis is keen to keep the strength in depth that he currently has.

“We think we’ve got three good goalkeepers you know what goalkeepers are like, they love to stick together.” The Stoke boss commented.

“They’ve been competitive, obviously Thomas is disappointed at not playing, but the three of them are good for one another.”

Begovic looks set to keep hold of the number one jersey after an excellent performance against West Brom earlier in the week however,  Gordon Banks, who played in both England and Stoke football kits,  has been impressed with him so far this season.

“If he’s playing as well as this and he keeps on doing that, in two or three years’ time he will be something very special.”

“There’s some excellent goalkeepers around this country but if he keeps this standard up he’ll be up there with them, definitely.”