One of the stranger transfer rumours in the run-up to the January transfer window has seen Arsenal linked to Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina.
Reina is a player that Arsene Wenger has had his eyes on for some time, but the timing doesn’t seem right. Reina was the Premier Leagues’ best a couple of seasons ago but he has been on a steady decline ever since. He’s not half the player he used to be and mistakes are now a regular part of his game.
Why should Arsenal splash out on a player with that level of inconsistency?
There’s also the question of whether Arsenal really need another keeper. Pundits seem to have had it in their heads for so long now that the Gunners are weak in this area, such that they can’t seem to face up to the fact that Wojciech Szczesny is actually pretty good. It seems that the people who write these rumours are still stuck in the past.
The days of Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski are long gone. Yes, the hapless ‘Flappyhandski’ is still at the club, but he’s unlikely to play any time soon. Then there’s Vito Mannone, a fairly average player who is able to do a job when called upon.
So whilst there are very few options beyond Szczesny, the lanky Pole has more than proven himself between the sticks. He’s a real character, controls his area with aplomb and is one of the best young shot-stoppers in the game. When you consider how much Manchester United shelled out on David De Gea, it’s clear that Arsenal have lucked out.
In other words, if Arsenal are to go into the transfer market for another keeper, it should be for a back-up, not an out and out first-teamer.
That’s why I was particularly interested to see the Gunners get linked to Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (Source: Daily Mail). The Belgium has impressed this season, keeping 6 clean sheets in 18 appearances for a side that has struggled to put their best foot forward this year. He’s a smart player, who instills faith in those in front of him and he’s be an excellent addition.
This is a player Martin O’Neill believes to be as good as Joe Hart. Arsene needs to figure out whether he’d be willing to play second fiddle to Szczesny. If he is, then at £5m, he may well represent something of a bargain.
What’s your take? Would Simon Mignolet be a good back-up for Wojciech Szczesny?
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We do need a second keeper, but please not Reina.