Arsenal Goalkeeping Targets and Likely Hood Of Us Signing The Player

Arsenal have been in a goalkeeping crisis since the departure of Lehman and although they have three young and promising keepers in Szczesny, Mannone and Fabianski none are ready to take over the reins as our No. 1 in the near future so I decided to look at our goalkeeping targets and their likelihood of coming to Arsenal

Wenger has a lot to take into account before he makes his decision and hopefully I can help fellow Arsenal fans understand why he isn't just going out and buying a 20-something keeper who will be our long term No. 1 for years to come

His Three Young Keepers

While many might question how talented keepers like Fabianski and Mannone are, most agree that Szczesny is one of the best young keepers in the world and Wenger's comments over the last years look like he believes that as well. His first preference is a short-term keeper who can do the job for maybe 2-3 years until one of these keepers are ready to take over, which explains why he went for Schwarzer

Expense and Availability

Keepers are usually over-valued compared to their midfield counterparts because of their role in the team and not paying over the odds for a keeper is very hard in modern football. Wenger as we know pays what a player is worth (sometimes even less) so when looking at the player he looks at their contract length, their age and their willingness to leave the club (in other words, a bargain).

Adaptability to English Game

Unlike other leagues around the world, keepers in English football aren't protected enough and for a keeper to survive in England he needs to be mentally and physically tough. So if Wenger buys a keeper from outside England and has plans for him to be our immediate No. 1 then he has to be sure that the goalkeeper can survive playing against teams like Stoke and Blackburn. Most of the "great" keepers out there are fantastic shot-stoppers. They just don't match up when it comes to their ability of dealing with set pieces

Current Players' Contract

Wenger also faces the problem of losing his most prized assets for free. Szczesny's contract runs out this season and Fabianski's contract runs out next season. Whatever player Wenger goes for, players like Szczesny should feel there's light at the end of the tunnel or they will just move to a club that will give them a chance of first-team opportunity sooner rather than later.

Almunia will be released this summer (thank god) and Wenger's preferred scenario for next year will be to buy a keeper in his mid 30s, get both Szczesny and Fabianski to sign long-term contracts and then send both Szczesny and Mannone on six-month loans to gain experience and make Fabianski push the new keeper for his place in the team

His targets in this scenario are most likely going to be Schwarzer, Sorenson, Gorka Iraizoz or Green as their contracts run out this year. He might also spend a bit and go for Given although that's a mild possibility

If Szczesny doesn't sign a contract and Fabianski doesn't show signs of becoming our long-term No. 1 by next year then expect Wenger to sign a keeper who will be our long-term No. 1 rather than a short-term solution someone like Alder, Handanovic, Neuer, Stekelengburg or Muslera as all these players' contracts are expiring soon and will available for a reasonable price (just like Wenger likes it).

I know a lot of Arsenal fans are frustrated by the fact that Wenger is prudent when it comes to spending money but if it wasn't for this "cheapness" then Arsenal could have easily become the next Liverpool or Leeds United but as things stand right now we have the best running club in Europe. Our future is secured financially and on the pitch, so if we can get our injuries into control then we have a real chance of winning domestic cups, if not the CL.

I know I might be slated for supporting Wenger but the man could have easily kept the Invincibles, piled on the debt and left us as a very successful manager, but we would have been a bleeding club by now.

He did the exact opposite. He saved, scrounged, made hard decisions, stuck by his players, created the best youth system in England, and the best facilities/stadium in England. These things will serve Arsenal for years if not generations to come and for that he's slated not just in the media but also by his own club fans.

This is my second article and will love to hear your comments about it.