Source: Team_Talk
Wenger impressed by Almunia attitude
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has thrown his full support behind Manuel Almunia and revealed his pride at the club's productive youth policy.[LNB] The Gunners have started the season with three wins from four Premier League games to sit two points behind Chelsea - and opened their bid for European glory with a 6-0 thrashing of Braga at the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Almunia's position as Wenger's first choice was the subject of much speculation over the summer, as Arsenal had bids for Fulham's Australia international Mark Schwarzer turned down.[LNB]Wenger feels both Almunia and his deputy Lukasz Fabianski - who has also had a fair share of criticism - coped with the situation well, though, and is happy with the options he has.[LNB]Spaniard Almunia, 33, captained the side on the opening day at Liverpool, when he pulled off a fine save from Steven Gerrard's stoppage-time free-kick to help secure a point, and also came through a test of character in the 2-1 win at Blackburn before the international break.[LNB]The clean sheet against Braga was his second of the season, and Wenger hailed Almunia's contribution.[LNB]Speaking at Thursday night's question and answer session with Arsenal shareholders, the Gunners boss said: "Manuel Almunia is in front at the moment because of his quality and the way he accepted what happened to him.[LNB]"Since the start of the season the way he has responded to the challenge has been absolutely outstanding. That is why I give him my full support."[LNB]He added: "Normally in any goal you have four or five mistakes, but the keeper has the last. You can take any goalkeeper and they all make mistakes."[LNB]Another plus this season has been the form of promising young England international Jack Wilshere.[LNB]The 18-year-old returned from a loan spell at Bolton determined to force his way into Wenger's regular starting XI, and impressed alongside Fabregas last night.[LNB]Wenger firmly believes such talent must be allowed to shine, rather than just simply going out and adding expensive experienced cover.[LNB]"I always wanted to develop the players I have," the Gunners boss said.[LNB]"For example we have [Abou] Diaby, we have [Alex] Song, we have Denilson in this position, we have bought Aaron Ramsey - 18 years old - in this position, and now Jack Wilshere develops in this position.[LNB]"The problem when you develop a young team, for example we have Jack who was born in 1992 - 18 years old - is that if I don't make room for him he will go somewhere.[LNB]"People will say to me: 'Why did you let him go? Look at what a good player he is.'[LNB]"But if you don't play him [he will go] and that's the tricky situation of developing young players.[LNB]"First you have to scout them, then give them a good education, but the final part is to be strong enough to say 'I will give this boy a chance to play'.[LNB]"The first two stages are not too difficult, but the third stage you have to be strong, to face the critics and the people who want always the best players in the world and to say 'No, I believe in you, I will give you a chance'.[LNB]"I believe if we can be proud of one thing we did in recent years, it is that we have done that very well with a lot of support from the board."[LNB]Wenger, though, knows his young Gunners must now deliver - having not landed a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.[LNB]"It is time now for us to keep these players together and to develop them and to win," the Arsenal manager declared.[LNB]"Then we can say we have created something special with a style of play we wanted to create, that is unique, with the values that we want to put forward at the club, and as well with an expectation level to have a team together for a few years.[LNB]"That is why we were absolutely adamant to keep Fabregas as well because we have worked hard in the last five years to get this team together."
