Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

It’s easy to feel pessimistic about Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation.  Ths whole thing seems to badly handled. We have four first-team keepers.  But nearly every Arsenal fan believes that none of them are up to the job.  Various hints and quotes from Arsene Wenger suggest that he feels much the same.  Two may be up to task in the future.  Two must be feeling thoroughly demoralised by now.

But it is still possible to be an optimist.  There are still nearly two weeks to go until the end of the the transfer window and according to various reports there are still several options out there.

Mark Schwarzer  -  This has been the story that just won’t go away despite the best efforts of Fulham.  Schwarzer clearly wants a move.  Arsenal clearly want a keeper.  Fulham probably couldn’t turn their noses up at a sizable wad of cash.  Still a possibility.

Shay Given  -  It is clear that City see Joe Hart as the future.  He has the talent and motivation of the motivation of  the England jersey.  Mancini saying that he hopes Given will stay but will understand if he doesn’t want to, must tell the Irishman all he needs to know about his chances of first-team football.  Still a possibility there.

Maarten Stekelenburg  -  Ajax have cashproblems, according to their financial director Jeroen Slop. Which has to mean they are open to offers.  Stekelenburg is an experienced, international goalkeeper.  Still a possibility there.

So, three experienced international keepers out there. Thirteen days until the window slams shut.  Come on Arsene, Ivan, give us optimists a reward!

With Sol Campbell staying I’m beginning to wonder whether that’s it for central defenders. Personally I would like to see another bought in but it may not happen now. But that doesn’t mean that the defensive rebuilding work is done.

I think that we still need a better goalkeeper and another defensive midfielder.

At the weekend all the talk was about Stekelenburg and Akinfeev. Both would be a step forward. But so would Schwarzer and I reckon that’s a rumour that has only gone quiet because the press have bored themselves with it and because all the Fulham talk is about the vacant manager slot.

I think that the defensive midfielder slot is just as important. Song is a big favourite of mine but we can’t rely on him every time and if you look at the successful clubs they generally have the option of playing two holding midfielders when the going gets tough. Plus we lose Song every other year when the African Cup is on.

Eastmond and Frimpong look interesting for the future but they’re not the established mature players that Arsenal need to balance out the team. We need go for another Song.