Arsenal fans must thus feel a great deal of warmth towards Wojciech Szczesny (who despite starting this season as the Gunner’s third choice goalkeeper, was the main reason that Wenger didn’t bring in another keeper last summer). His calm, composed and dare I say it: confident performances cast Fabianski’s and Almunia’s flappy-handed displays in rather a bad light. He is Arsenal’s hope for the future. But then even Szczesny has had occasion for a high-profile slip-up this season as a miscommunication with defender Laurent Koscielny saw Birmingham City’s Obafemi Martins guide the ball easily into the back of the Arsenal net in the Carling Cup final.
And that’s exactly the problem. Just how exactly is any goalkeeper supposed to prosper within this Arsenal squad? Forget that Arsenal haven’t been able to find a goalkeeper of a standard with Manchester United’s Edwin van der Sar or Chelsea’s Petr Cech (who just like anybody else make the occasional mistake) since I honestly believe that even a great keeper would struggle to look good behind the Arsenal defence as it currently stands.
It’s a generally acknowledged fact that Arsene Wenger sets up his squad to favour the offensive elements within, often at the expense of the Gunner’s defence. Arsenal’s back-four are often left without protection from the midfield (just see the free role that ‘defensive anchor’ Alex Song is granted in the centre of the park) and Arsenal’s back-four itself is all too often peopled with players who just aren’t cut out to make it as this level (I’m sorry Sebastien Squillaci, but I’m looking at you).
If you’re a weak keeper in this Arsenal set-up, you will get exposed. If you’re a good keeper, you’ll be under a lot of pressure and are more than likely to make the odd mistake. The trouble is that this can often be a self-perpetuating evil. Arsenal’s growing reputation for being weak at the back no doubt plays on every keeper’s mind the moment he walks out onto the pitch. It’s his responsibility to make sure that Arsenal stand-up for themselves at the back and it’s his responsibility to run-out nonsensically towards Odemwingie in a vain attempt to somehow leave their stamp on the game.
The desire to prove yourself worthy, I think, often accords with a lack of sense. Rather than making sure you do the simple things right, you’re constantly over-thinking things.
The Arsenal goalkeeping position is over-examined and every mistake exacerbates an already dire situation. To be granted the position is to be handed a poisoned chalice. Things will never change – Arsenal’s reputation for being soft at the back is too strongly ingrained in the mentality of opposition teams. The pressure will always be there. It’s going to take a really special talent to break the cycle.
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