Are Arsenal's Goalkeeping Problems About To Be Solved?

With the Arsenal news still a little thin on the ground we were at least treated to a few snippets yesterday. First of all the boss says that he has been talking to his definite transfer targets for this summer and he hopes to do business before the World Cup begins. The key words for me are "definite targets" and if that's the case I'm delighted that he is taking our need for new players as seriously as I hoped he would.

Every single Arsenal fan knows we need a new goalkeeper and nobody is going to back either Almunia or Fabianski at this stage. As has been said elsewhere, far better goalkeepers than either of them were cast aside for a lot less and the time has come for the boss to buy a top class goalkeeper to walk straight into our first team and immediately strengthen it.

We need a keeper who can control his penalty area, deal with back passes and come for crosses. Ideally I would like a keeper with an excellent kicking game as well, but as long as he doesn't continually kick it to the opposition or out of play it will be an improvement.

I know there are great hopes for young Chesney and I'm sure it would do him no harm to have a top class keeper ahead of him at the club as he could learn from him. I do question the goalkeeping coaching at the club at times and I wonder if they are teaching the keepers to be strong, aggressive and assertive. These are all qualities that are prominent in top class keepers and when a little bit of eccentricity (or madness) is added to it you can be sure you have a winning formula.

After the purchase of a goalkeeper I think we need to move for a centre back or two with Silvestre not good enough, Gallas looking like he is leaving, Campbell possibly staying and Djourou a good prospect but he has played very few senior games for us. I know the likes of Bartley are also good prospects but I think we need another top class centre back to play alongside Vermaelen every week. If Djourou recovers fully he can become cover along with Campbell and Bartley and if we're stuck Song.

I would also like us to sign at least one adventurous attacking player who can play in a wide position, beat players and score goals. I'm not sure who that player is but is it possible that we might find such a player in the Dutch league where Ajax play a similar game to us and have being scoring goals for fun this season. We haven't done too badly with signings from that league in the past with Overmars, RVP and Vermaelen springing to mind although I'm sure someone will point out that I am missing at least one dud.

The other news for today is that our opponents for the Emirates Cup have been announced. The tournament takes place on Saturday July 31st and Sunday August 1st and we will be joined by AC Milan, Lyon and Celtic. At least it should make an entertaining tournament and I don't see any real significance in the return of Celtic after "Eduardogate".

I'm sure the club will get good attendances as Celtic usually bring a very large support wherever they go and the Arsenal fans will be dying for their first glimpse of our fantastic new signings.

The fact that the boss intends to bring his targets in before the World Cup is great news as it should keep us bloggers at least a little busy between the end of the season and the start of the World Cup.

After that there's the World Cup itself to report on and the progress of the Arsenal players at it and of course the fixtures for the new season. Soon afterwards we'll have pre season training and loads of pictures of our new players in the new home kit and before we know it the Emirates Cup will be upon us.

Finally for today Arshavin has denied reports that he wants to leave and in some quarters he is quoted as saying he will finish his career at Arsenal. The following players have been linked with us today and will therefore more than likely not join us this summer—N,Zonzi and Phil Jones of Blackburn, Mexes of Roma and Hangeland of Fulham. Well maybe they will but they are all linked with us which is usually a sure sign that they won't.

Here's a little bit of what we've been missing recently.

See You Tomorrow.