Despite speculation that he would be sold last summer, Manuel Almunia started the 2010/11 season as our first-choice goalkeeper. However, Almunia picked up an injury in the game against West Bromwich Albion on September 25th and was subsequently kept out of goal for most of the season by Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski. Almunia joined the club from Celta Vigo in 2004, and will be forever remembered as the player that replaced Robert Pires in the 18th minute of the Champions League Final against Barcelona after Jens Lehmann was red-carded. He will not be fondly remembered for allowing both of Barcelona’s goals to beat him at the near post during that Final in Paris.

During the West Brom game, Almunia conceded a penalty (which he subsequently saved and which led to his injury), let in a shot at his near post and was caught out of position for the third goal. His error prone performances led to much speculation that he would be sold in Januray, but a move to Atlético Madrid never materialised.

On 8th March, Almunia replaced the injured Szczesny 19 minutes into our Champions League last 16 match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Arsenal lost the game 3-1, but the Spaniard was voted Man of the Match on the club’s official website.



Due to injuries to our back-up goalkeepers, Arsène Wenger negotiated a deal in which Jens Lehmann came out of retirement and joined the club on a short-term contract until the end of the season. The veteran goalkeeper, who signed for the club on 17th March, was not expected to play for the first-team, but would remain on the bench in case of emergency.

Following the Barcelona game (and injuries to Szczesny and Fabianski) Almunia retained his place in goal for several games until he too picked up a knee injury while warming up in the game against Blackpool. Almunia’s injury meant that Lehmann came off the bench and grabbed his only appearance of the season – his first appearance for the Gunners since he left for Stuttgart in June 2008 and his 200th overall appearance for the club. Lehmann also became the oldest player to play for Arsenal in the Premier League. However, Jack Rutherford remains the oldest player to play for the club in all competitions.

While Almunia did not have the greatest season, he made 14 appearances for the club despite losing out to the two young Poles. In my opinion he was never a strong enough replacement for Lehmann, and I am quite surprised that he lasted as first-choice goalkeeper for as long as he did. Lehmann will forever remain engrained in the memory of Arsenal fans for his fantastic performances for the club from 2003-2008. Although he will not necessarily be noted for his one appearance this season, I was delighted to have him at the club for this short period.

Straightalkingooners