The FIVE Plan B’s should Wenger fail to land Schwarzer
Arsenal yesterday (10th of June) confirmed that the club have made an approach to sign Fulham Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, as the Gunners look for a new no.1 for next season’s campaign.
Wenger wants to bring in a new goalkeeper and has pinpointed the Australian international as his number one choice this summer.
Many Arsenal fans have expressed their unhappiness this season with their current goal-stopper’s Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. Due to their frustrations, the fans have urged Wenger to go out acquire a more proficient keeper, and it seems the calls have been answered by the Frenchman. However, is Schwarzer the man the Arsenal faithful had in mind?
Schwarzer is a good option for the Gunners to venture into. It’s blatantly obvious to fans not just that of Arsenal, but fans of other Premier League teams, that the Gunners need a more experienced and reliable set of hands to guard the goal at the Emirates. According to the Arsenal boss, Schwarzer can offer both of these.
Without a doubt Many fans would prefer to see the Aussie model the no.1 jersey next season rather than Almunia or his deputy Fabianski. The Aussie boasts more experience, has greater communication, distribution and handling attributes than the current Arsenal keepers. However, Is Schwarzer the answer to Arsenal’s ongoing goalkeeper problem? Or are there better options available to Wenger and co this summer?
A majority of Arsenal fans will want to see Wenger target a more youthful and dynamic goalkeeper this summer…Schwarzer is neither, but he remains on top of Wenger’s wish list in this particular department. Nevertheless, which other shot-stoppers could Le Professeur seek out should the Fulham goalkeeper not be allowed to leave Craven Cottage this summer?
Here are 5 other probable and reasonable alternatives for the Frenchman to consider when the window re-opens. Each one have been given a rating on how good (in my opinion) they would be for Arsenal football club :
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Arsenal have expressed their interest in the young England international shot-stopper prior to the completion of the domestic season. The club were reported to be lining up a possible bid for Hart when the summer window opens in July.
The 23-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper spent the entire year on-loan with Birmingham City where he produced brilliant performances week in week out. Capello rewarded the keeper for his displays this season by selecting him to fly to South Africa this summer. Hart is a young talented goal-stopper who will become a world-class act in the future given the chance and guided by the right individual.
Hart looks as if he will be starting next season’s campaign off with City, after Shay Given dislocated his shoulder against the Gunners in late April. However, with Given on the mend and regaining full-fitness, Hart will still be second choice for Mancini despite excelling this season. Joe Hart appears to be the Arsenal fans favourite to take the gloves off Almunia; they will no doubt love to see the young keeper between the Emirates sticks next season.
Glove Rating: 5/5
Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina)
The highly rated and reliable Fiorentina goal-stopper has been strongly linked with a number of European clubs, after the Frenchman had declared he seeks a new challenge. Despite recent reports from his agent suggesting that the shot-stopper is happy in Florence, the 30-year-old will no doubt be upset with his team’s failure to qualify for the Champion’s League next season.
Arsenal are reported to be amongst the horde of clubs that wish to acquire the keeper’s signature and have a good chance of obtaining it should they show more interest. Frey has stated that he will make his decision after his summer break which has left the door wide open for clubs, including Arsenal to bid for the player.
Frey is a well established and dependable keeper who has made his name in the Italian game for the past several seasons. Wenger should definitely consider Frey as a possible target should Schwarzer refuse sign for the Gunners this summer.
Glove Rating: 3/5
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Wenger will sign none of them as it will prevent Szczesny becoming Arsenal’s no. 1 in a few years time
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Wenger has lost the plot completely, granted schwarzer is better than alumnia, mind you a blind mule is better than alumnia.
The fact is if he is serious about being title contenders he needs to invest properly in a goal keeper, for now and not in five years time. The fact is we can’t wait for szczesny even if he is promising. We need either hart or lloris. I hope he buys one of them but I know he won’t.
Lets face it another year with almunia and another trophyless season.
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I think Schwarzer would be ideal. At 37 he will tide us over until Chesney or Fabianski come good enough. 2 years I reckon so a 37 year old is perfect.
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your list is just wishfull thinking. majority of your choices were under 30. next time you make a list please take into account what arsene is after i.e. old enough to only be there for 3 seasons at the most, reliable and cheap.
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if the bid for schwarzer fails…which i hope it does…then wenger should go on and sign thomas sorenson of stoke city! 6’5 tall…34 years of age and has 12 years of experience in the premier league with stoke, aston villa and sunderland! he was excellent in the last season! I really hope he comes…if not then i really hope wenger goes on to buy a quality keeper i.e. neuer, lloris, akinfeev, adler…if szcesny is too good he should fight for his place in the first team rather then just walking into it after 2-3 seasons. I’m sure all Gooners would agree!
Gunners 4 Life!
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After watching Schwarzer against Germany, I am less confident than I was. He seemed, like the rest of the Aussies, totally overwhelmed and slow to react. Mind you, he didn’t get much help from his teammates in defense and midfield. I agree with most o the posters, he is too old. We need an experienced BUT younger keeper to bring up the standard. Lloris and Heurer, Sorensen, Hart…these fit the bill much better.
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Schwarzer is too slow, his reactions are shot…any one of the five posted on the list in this article would be great for the gunners!!!
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Buffon would be a major coup, the rest are just settling for second best and Arsenal have had to do that for too long now! It would be refreshing and a real morale boost for the loyal squad members if Arsenal went after the best player in his position in the world for a change and buffon is (arguably) just that! all this talk of needing a stop gap keeper till szczesny hawks is ready to take the no. 1 jersey is nonsense. If he really is gonna be that good then he’ll have no problem taking the jersey from buffon!
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Totally agree wiv topgoon, Buffon is the best keeper out there and arsenal should target the best.
This szczesny dude is getting so much hype, yet the man has only been playing for Brentford this past year. yes he may be young but if people are claiming and declaring how good the guy really is then surely he should take the no.1 off Almunia, because that guy is a joke all together. good article, good choices
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