A good number of Arsenal fans have spent a good deal of time complaining about their lack of firepower upfront. They are, of course, absolutely right. Replacing Robin Van Persie was always going to be a challenge. Arsene Wenger didn’t exactly cover himself in glory by only bringing in Olivier Giroud, a man who many predicted would take a while to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.
But I feel like some fans have been bemoaning the Arsenal attack at the expense of a proper look at a more pressing area: the number one shirt.
Let’s be honest – Arsenal have had an issue with goalkeepers ever since David Seaman’s abilities began to wane around a decade ago. Some hold Jens Lehmann up as the high watermark in post-Seaman goalies, but the truth is he was just as prone to blunders as the rest of them.
A strong (theatrical) personality aside, Jens made rash decisions on the football pitch and even found himself replaced by Spaniard Manuel Almunia at one stage in his career. Manuel Almunia, just like Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone, is not Arsenal quality. How they are paid so well and have received so much game time at the top level is beyond me.
Arsenal fans thought they had found their new savior when Wojciech Szczesny exploded onto the scene at a young age. He was brash, petulant and talented. In many ways, he reminds me of Jens – he has that quality about him – a certain crazed confidence, a willingness to throw himself in front of anything to stop a goal.
He commands his penalty area fairly well and is a great shot-stopper. But at 22-years-old, it’s perhaps not all that surprising that mistakes are still fairly common in his game. Anybody who saw him play at Euro 2012 knows that he still has a lot to learn.
As such, Arsenal have been left in the lurch this season, without an experienced keeper to help provide confidence to a shaky back four. The news that Arsenal could have bought Hugo Lloris this summer (source: Daily Mail) is particularly damning in this light. It’s another case of the club holding itself back because of its unwillingness to assert itself financially. This decision has already cost Arsenal points this season. It will likely cost them further as the year trundles on. Nice going.
Whether Arsene will look at keepers this January remains to be seen. We can only hope that he does the right thing.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal have snapped up Hugo Lloris last summer?
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I would have agreed with until yesterday. Lloris looked poor. Arsenal do need a quality goalkeeper but there is better than Lloris about!
We currently don’t need to panic over a goalkeeper. Our boys have got it and I believe they will be the best soon esp WS.
Without a good defence, Hugo Lloris is not better than Vito Manonne, this was proven yesterday.
No doubt about hugo lloris potentials but i think arsenal needs a more confident keeper than him e.g julio ceaser to quickly cove up in case the “mistake prone defence” is broken,arsenal 4 lyfe.
it doesnt matter who we have in goal. with a deffence as porous as ours we could make Neur/mandanda look shit……however i do think some stability in that area would help and that only really comes with experiance.
An experience keeper and a defendsive midfielder. From my point of view.
Gianluigi Buffon… go get him AW !
We need tim krul, krul is heading to be the best keeper in the world
What utter garbage, I have never rated Loris and would rather have Vito in goal. Loris can be spectacularly bad. Chesney is not the greatest but he wears his pride, believes in himself etc. Am i pleased we did not buy Schwarzer!! Tell me please how you can replace RVP with someone better, one second yous say RVPis the best in the world, next you say that Giroud is a lousy repalcement, what do expect Messi, Ronaldo!! I reckon that Giroud may just outscore RVP this season.
Does it really matter, if we have a solid defence and good DM (m’villa) we would not concede cheap goals. So I would say get a Left back and a tough tackling Defensive Midfielder and we are good to go. Besides giroud is living the dream now, scores at every game.
I see no reason why they are complaining of goalkeeper there are better thing(s) to talk about like danger man upfront. Our keeper conceded 13 goals, Chelsea keeper also conceded the same about of goals. i think the problem here is front man and defender. If Arsenal improve their defense and a quality front man i think fans will be happy.
What an utter load of rubbish this article is,
Hugo Lloris is the most overrated keeper ever, deffinately no better than Szczesny so why would Arsenal waste their money.
I do think Arsenal do need to buy another keeper because Mannone & Flappyinski are not good enough to be 2nd choice.
Don’t get soaked in with all the articles bemoaning Arsenal’s “poor defence”. Yes it has made individual mistakes but they have still only conceded two more than ManU, Chelsea etc. and this without Gibbs and a malfunctioning Thomas Vermaelen.
Is Loris better than the current two gks with Arsenal?I will think he’s better than Mannon.We have known since Lehman left the gunner have poor gks compared to the top teams.A top class guy like Czech is worth at least ten points more or his weight in gold.
Lloris is an average keeper!! The problem we have is.. We havnt got a propa defensive midfielder!! Until we do we will keep leaking goals!! U can’t attack like we do and not have that shield infront of the defence!! Arteta(an attacking midfielder)plating as one says it all!! He’s done well but he’s not the answer!! Until this problem gets adressed expecting nothing but the same…
This is possible the worst and most pointless article I’ve ever read. Regret signing Hugo Llores?!?! Have a rest mate
Lloris is the mst better one