Source: Team_Talk
Gunners in safe hands, says Wenger
Experienced Manuel Almunia is fit again following six weeks out with a virus.[LNB]However, for the last two matches - against Birmingham and in the away Champions League draw with AZ Alkmaar - young Italian Vito Mannone has retained his place.[LNB]Now, Poland international Lukasz Fabianski is also close to first-team contention following his summer knee operation, having played for the reserves in midweek, while 19-year-old Wojciech Szczesny impressed during the Carling Cup game against West Brom.[LNB]Arsenal have always been able to rely on a long-line of consistent number ones, from the likes of Bob Wilson, Northern Ireland stopper Pat Jennings and England's David Seaman.[LNB]Wenger, though, has full confidence in the four members of his current goalkeeping fraternity.[LNB]"Yes, I believe we have enough quality," the Arsenal manager said.[LNB]"Goalkeeper is a very difficult position. Why? It is the only position where you have only negative stress. People speak only about you when you have made a mistake.[LNB]"A striker has positive stress - he has a pressure to score but if he scores he is always 'a hero', he is always 'fantastic'.[LNB]"But a goalkeeper is only spoken about when he lets a goal in or when he makes a mistake and it is a difficult position."[LNB]Wenger added: "He must be good with his feet, good with his hands, be very quick, be highly focused for 90 minutes, not make any technical mistakes and it makes the job very hard."[LNB]Mannone, 21, hopes he has done enough to become first choice on a regular basis.[LNB]The Italian, outstanding at Fulham last month, said: "I am very pleased to keep my place.[LNB]"I just keep doing what I have been doing in the last few weeks and so far the boss has chosen me so I am happy."[LNB]Mannone told Arsenal TV Online: "I can see he has kept faith with me. I am working hard to repay him with my performances."[LNB]Croatia striker Eduardo (groin) is expected to be fit to face the Hammers, but both Tomas Rosicky (knee) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) are only rated as 50/50.[LNB]Theo Walcott, meanwhile, is set to be out for around a month following the knee medial ligament damage he suffered following a crunching tackle by Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell last weekend.[LNB]Wenger turned 60 yesterday, and attended Arsenal's Annual General Meeting at Emirates Stadium.[LNB]The Gunners boss told the shareholders the latest crop of talent can deliver a long-overdue trophy.[LNB]"I believe that this year the team will do it," declared the Arsenal boss, his side having won six from eight league games and with a match in hand on the leaders.[LNB]"When I say that, it is not to please you, it is because I am really convinced of it.[LNB]"This season we are ready to go for it in the Premier League, the Champions League and of course both the cups as well."[LNB]Earlier at the AGM, there had also been a chance for members of the board to field questions.[LNB]However, Stan Kroenke lived up to his reputation when maintaining a dignified silence after one shareholder directly raised the issue as to the intentions of the American billionaire investor, who is the club's largest individual shareholder.[LNB]"I don't think we are looking for a change in custodian," said chairman Peter Hill-Wood.[LNB]"I think you will find the club is in pretty good hands.[LNB]"I believe he (Kroenke) is happy to be a long-term shareholder in our club.[LNB]"Really it's not for me to say what his intentions are."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
