Arsenal: Sparky Short Circuits Schwarzer Move

Yes, yes I know, worst headline ever. Let's just move past it and pretend it never happened.

I do try my hardest not to take a negative tone in my writing about Arsenal, and indeed in my attitude as a football fan in general. Obviously that doesn't always pan out if you're a passionate supporter but nether the less it's important not to lose sight of the fact that if you're not getting any enjoyment out of it, then what's the point of being a fan?

I'm not saying you've got to look on the bright side when your team has just lost a crucial game to some insufferable club like Chelsea, but if overall you get nothing that you like from being a fan then you should question what you're in it for.

Nether the less, despite my efforts to stay positive I would be lying if I said that certain elements of this summer haven't gotten on my nerves, and I would certainly be less than honest if I told you my first thought upon seeing that Mark Hughes had been appointed Fulham manager was something like  "Oh, what a fine chap that Hughes fellow is, after all Arsenal have never had any ill dealings with him, I'm sure this will not impede any potential transfer deal for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in any way."

And a good thing too, because I'd sit here a disappointed man if I had thought that.  Mark Hughes   has confirmed he will indeed stand in the way of Schwarzer moving anywhere. And one would assume even if he was willing to let him go, then Arsenal and Arsene Wenger would be well down the list of people Hughes would want to deal with.

I've had the feeling for a while despite the rumblings about Marchetti that if Arsenal can't sign Schwarzer then they won't sign a new goalkeeper. I could be wrong, indeed I hope I am. But if Schwarzer is unavailable then I could see Arsenal heading into the new season with the goalkeeping personnel that they have now. Especially with Arsene Wenger's priority (rightly) a new centre-back.

It's not necessarily cut and dried that the deal won't happen but Arsenal can't very well try to strong arm Fulham into co-operating with all they've said about a certain club I don't want to mention for a while's pursuit of one of our players who I'd like to get through a single day without mentioning.

The idea of going into a new season without doing something about the goalkeeping situation at Arsenal is not one I wanted to be entertaining at this point in the summer, but it's here and not going away any time soon I would suggest.

That leaves us to ponder which of the four goalkeepers would be the best for Arsenal to hedge their bets on. As I put forward yesterday I still think Manuel Almunia is the best bet of the four. He's not a great bet, but the best one Arsenal have nonetheless. Lukasz Fabianski is not at the required standard, and strong aerial teams pose him a real problem, and the other two are simply too inexperienced to take a chance of the size required on.

I have read a lot of abuse directed at Almunia over the last year or so from Arsenal fans. If he does continue as number one I hope that most fans will be sensible enough to see that anything other than supporting a player wearing the Arsenal shirt is counter-productive.

Almunia's problem is mostly a confidence one I feel. That's not to say it's his only problem but I do think it is his main one. Fans can have a part to play in him overcoming that, and I hope that Arsenal's fans can recognise that and put it above a need to "protest".

Anyway, I'm jumping the gun a little, the transfer window is not closed yet, and we don't know what may happen between now and the time it does close, so I'll leave the goalkeeper musings there.

Thomas Vermaelen   has stated his aim to improve yet further this season. I think any suggestion he may suffer from so-called "second season syndrome" is not doing the man enough credit. Vermaelen has shown repeatedly his winning mentality and his desire to be the best. I don't see him getting complacent, or allowing himself to slip. I'm very confident in him going into the new season.

It will come as no surprise I'm sure to learn that  Nicklas Bendtner's   "small problem" has turned into an injury that has no set timetable for recovery. Does anyone else feel that familiar sinking sensation?

Bosnian defender  Emir Spahic   claims that his club Montpellier and Arsenal are in negotiations about a possible transfer. It's the clearest news for a while about a possible signing but I am of course prepared for the fact that there may be nothing more to it than a player making a bit of noise to raise his profile at this stage.

That wraps it up for this morning by the looks of things. Take it easy, and I'll be back tomorrow.