Almunia ready for Gunners return

Sat, 31 Oct 10:32:53 2009

Lukasz Fabianski's thigh injury has put Manuel Almunia back in the frame for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League clash against rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

Poland goalkeeper Fabianski picked up the injury in the midweek Carling Cup win over Liverpool, while rookie stopper Vito Mannone has made recent mistakes. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger kept Mannone in the team despite Almunia, 32, recovering from a chest problem.

Wenger said: "We lost Lukasz Fabianski with a thigh injury. He will be out for three weeks. Of course, it is big disappointment - because he has just come back from injury."

The Frenchman added: "Almunia is back to his normal level. I have no worries about him but I don't want to give an indication as to who will play yet. People don't know who the number-one keeper is, but I do."

Samir Nasri made his return from a fractured leg in the win over Liverpool, although he is cautious about returning to full match-fitness.

"The most important thing is not to make a relapse," said the France midfielder.

"The boss asked me two or three times during the game how I felt and I had to make a sign if I felt the slightest touch. But everything was all right.

"I was very satisfied with my comeback. After five months without playing, I had appetite, I wanted to get around the pitch and touch the ball.

"I thought that it would have been a little bit more difficult. We worked well with the physical assistant. Now, I need to play and play again."

 

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  1. Wenger has an incredible record against Tottenham.­ let's hope they win tomorrow. Adebayor really is­ out to cause trouble with rumours. Ignore him.

    From sjdgls, on Sat 31 Oct 3:51AM
  2. oh oh here we go again, ol fumbles almunia is in­ goal.....hope he improved his game arseanl need a world­ class keeper....

    go gunners

    From VictorS, on Fri 30 Oct 9:51PM
  3. I just watched last seasons 4-4 Gunners/Tot game on­ yootoobe and 3 out of the 4 goals the Gunners conceded­ where mistakes from Manuel Almunia. Also Adeboyor didnt­ try for sheet in that match. Almunia now knows his­ place is not 100% safe so i hope he'll suprise us­ all and put in 110% effort.

    Aslong as Song doesnt make­ any mistake and Fabregas doesnt get man marked the­ whole match, the Gunners have this one wrapped up. GO­ GUNNERS!.

    From Dkuhne, on Fri 30 Oct 3:27PM
  4. "People don't know who the number-one keeper­ is, but I do."..hmmm interesting, I was actually­ rooting for Mannone, but he has made some errors, that­ can cost us e.g. West Ham game. That being said, AW you­ now who the number 1 is, but i don't think we have­ a defiante number, that's a delimma, Almunia has­ shown time after time that he hasn't got what it­ takes to be world class, and Mannone, Fabianski make­ rookie goalie mistakes, But i think Mannone has what it­ takes to be world class, but we cannot afford errors­ now. I think Wenger likes what he sees in Mannone, but­ Almunia will be in goal against Spurs.

    From Dale, on Fri 30 Oct 2:50PM
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