Manuel Almunia Confirms He'll Leave Arsenal This Summer

It is confirmed.

Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's out-of-favor goalkeeper, will leave Arsenal this summer when his contract runs out.

Almunia's stay at Arsenal has been anything but successful. And having displaced Jens Lehmann as Arsenal's first-choice goaltender following the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona, he proceeded to make some high-profile mistakes in the coming seasons, mistakes that led eventually to his demise.

Such has been his fall that this season, he has failed to make the squad list despite being available, a fact that has led to his been numbered among the so-called deadwoods. It is why few fans will mourn his departure from Arsenal.

He will leave after 175 appearances for Arsenal. 

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Down and Beaten: Almunia in action for Arsenal against giants, Barcelona. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images.

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Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said he hopes for a nice move to another club.

"I'm looking for a nice move next season. I want to start a new episode of my life."

The impending parting of ways with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger is respectful, he said. "It's a very respectful relationship and now I'm free, I can do what I like and he's happy with my work at Arsenal for ideas."

But although he's leaving Arsenal, he has no intention of leaving England, and if things go his way, he'd even prefer to remain in London. "I have got lazy to move too far, because life here in London is fantastic and I hope I can have a club to go to next season so I can stay," Almunia said.