Ian Wright blames Arsene Wenger for goalkeeping problems
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has said that Arsene Wenger bears the ultimate blame for the goalkeeping crisis at the London club.
Arsenal's shortcomings in the position have come to light in the last week.
Against Tottenham in the Carling Cup, stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski let in a weak effort by Robbie Keane, and Manuel Almunia, the first choice keeper since Jens Lehmann's departure in 2008, made two
crucial mistakes in the 3–2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
"Lehmann left for Stuttgart in June 2008 and, since then, Almunia has had no one to seriously challenge him," Wright told the Sun, blaming a lack of competition for the Spaniard's slump in form.
"He has been in the comfort zone for 2½ years, knowing however he performs he will start the next game — unless, of course, it's the Carling Cup. That is not healthy for any player at any club. And a club
like the Gunners needs competition in every position."
Wright: Wenger must take responsibility
Wright, who scored 128 goals in 221 league appearances for Arsenal between 1991 and 1998, said that it's Wenger, not the individual players, who must take the blame for the situation.
"You cannot blame Manuel Almunia for Arsenal's shock defeat to West Brom, just like you will not be able to point the finger at his understudy Lukasz Fabianski if he costs the Gunners once more in Belgrade
tonight. That's because, ultimately, there is one man who must carry the can for the current goalkeeping crisis at my old club. And that is Arsene Wenger."
Arsenal approached Fulham FC's keeper Mark Schwarzer during the transfer window, looking to sign the Australian veteran both as a player and as a goalkeeping coach, but Fulham manager Mark Hughes refused
to let him go.
It is expected that Arsenal will make another approach for Schwarzer in the January transfer window.
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