Wenger Praises 'Dignified' Almunia

MANUEL ALMUNIA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praiseed Manuel Almunia for his “professional and very dignified attitude” while not be the first choice keeping Arsenal goal.

Despite starting the campaign as the Club’s No. 1, the Spanish goalkeeper had fallen behind Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny in the pecking order after missing over four months of the season through injury.

Although starting this season as the Club’s No. 1 goalkeeper, Almunia then be just a third choice for Wenger after Lukasz Fabianski and then Wojciech Szczesny in the last four months after face an injury and less consistent.

But following the injury of Szczesny this week, Almunia is now Wenger’s only fit and recognised keeper in this season. Arsene Wenger told the media that he reserved special praise for Almunia’s attitude during his spell on the sidelines.

“He is very professional. He is very dignified attitude and overall he has done very well,” said Wenger. “He has done quite well when he came on and was quite busy in the final part of the game and he did very well against Barcelona.

"When I took Jens Lehmann out (in 2007), who had made only one mistake, and put Almunia in, Lehmann came in the next day and fought even harder. That's what I believe our job is about.”

Manuel Almunia is a Spanish goalkeeper. He is born in Pamplona, Navarre (Spain) on 19 May 1977. He signed for Arsenal for an undisclosed fee on 14 July 2004, and in 2006 had a taste of the big event when he replaced Robert Pires in the 18th minute of the Champions' League Final against Barcelona following the sending-off of Jens Lehmann. In 2008, Almunia signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.