By Richard Clarke
Manuel Almunia is getting close to a Spanish call-up, according
to the "noises" being heard by Arsène Wenger.
The 30-year-old keeper has been holding down the No 1 spot with
Arsenal for over three months now. In that time, the side have
established themselves as the Premier League pace-setters and
qualified in the Champions League. In fact, before Tuesday's
3-0 defeat at Sevilla, Almunia was averaging a miserly one goal
conceded every other game.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) and Pepe Reina (Liverpool) will take
some shifting as Spain's top two keepers but a third will be
needed at Euro 2008 next summer. Apparently Alumunia is not far
from a call.
"He is not," Wenger told Arsenal.com. "I know that.
There [are] always noises coming out of the camp so I know that
this is thought about."
It would be a 'Cinderella man' tale if the Pamplona-born
keeper was selected. Before signing for Arsenal, his career had
been spent at the likes of Osasuna B, Cartagonova, Sabadell, Eibar,
Recreativo Huelva and Albacete.
"It is a little bit like the Gregory Coupet story in France
where he came late to Lyon and then the national team," said
Wenger. "But overall goalkeepers careers can start late.
Sometimes it is down to getting the right chance and the right
moment.
"I feel as well he was here in an environment with top-class
keepers around him in the team like Lehmann who test you and push
you. Certainly Gerry Peyton has helped him as goalkeeper coach as
well.
"The conjunction of all these qualities has made him a better
goalkeeper. But first of all, he has a fantastic attitude and wants
always to improve."
