SOCCER/Arsenal v Rosenborg: Arsene Wenger must have a piercing eye for the hidden charms of Manuel Almunia. The Arsenal manager has looked beyond the sloppy concession of a goal at Old Trafford last Wednesday and the Spaniard's mishandling of Birmingham City's sole shot on target at the weekend. The 27-year-old is to keep his place for at least two critical games.
He will be between the posts tonight for the match with Rosenborg in which only victory will guarantee Arsenal's qualification for the knock-out phase of the Champions League. Come Sunday the pressure is again expected to be on Almunia when the team seeks the home win against Chelsea that would trim their rivals' five-point advantage in the Premiership.
"You don't think I would take a goalkeeper out for one game," said Wenger of the decision to depose Jens Lehmann. "I have to give (Almunia) a run."
The remark reflected the widely-heard view that this one area of the team demands special treatment. Squad rotation hardly ever spins a goalkeeper out of the line-up because continuity is supposed to be essential for the men who play there and the defenders around them.
Asked about his reasons for suddenly turning to the former Celta Vigo player, Wenger said: "It's nothing abnormal." Nonetheless he is well aware of the step he has taken. The manager may even have felt that only radical measures would do for a defence that had not kept a clean sheet in 13 games before Saturday.
On the training ground Almunia has been attracting Wenger's attention with some spectacular saves. "I feel he has great potential and that will come out by playing," said the Frenchman, who mocked the notion that there had been any confrontation when he discussed the situation with the demoted Germany international.
"I didn't time it with a stopwatch," he said. Lehmann himself said Wenger told him he was not at his "freshest". In fact he has not been particularly error prone of late, with the exception of a troubled evening in Greece when Arsenal drew 2-2 with Panathinaikos in October.
Almunia, by contrast, was at fault in that League Cup tie with Manchester United. "For me it was not a big mistake," said an indulgent Wenger. "You put that into perspective." Time is surely part of that perspective. At 35 Lehmann is eight years older than his rival. While others speak of the advantages of experience, the Arsenal manager is never deflected from his anxiety over the effects of the ageing process.
David Seaman, having made an uncanny, one-handed save against Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final, had then to listen to Wenger mingle reservations about the future of the veteran with appreciation of his influence that afternoon.
Seaman left in the summer.
A manager concerned by recent results may have decided the moment had come to be ruthless once again. There were suggestion that Arsenal could bid for Chelsea's reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini in the transfer window, but he is thought to be keen on remaining with the Premiership leaders. Assisting a rival might not appeal, in any case, to the Stamford Bridge manager Jose Mourinho. The 24-year-old Tromso goalkeeper Knut Borch has begun a week's trial as the Highbury club explores all possibilities.
Lehmann merely seems to be baffled that he has been supplanted by a man who had such a mishap at Old Trafford. "God works in mysterious ways" was all the German could offer by way of comment. Should Arsenal fail tonight, no one will be at any risk of confusing Wenger with the deity.
A win should be readily obtainable. Rosenborg have been out of form and several players are injured. Any misgivings in Wenger's mind will arise from the suspensions of Lauren and Patrick Vieira after their dismissals in Holland. Arsenal will have Justin Hoyte at right-back and, crucially, Mathieu Flamini (20) will be required to form a central midfield partnership with the teenager Cesc Fabregas as they pursue their first win in the group since overcoming PSV Eindhoven on the opening night.
Sol Campbell yesterday revealed that he has agreed to sign a new long-term contract at Arsenal. The England defender is expecting to tie up a few loose ends over the next couple of weeks before making an official announcement.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
ARSENAL (4-4-2): Almunia; Hoyte, Toure, Campbell, Cole; Ljungberg, Flamini, Fabregas, Pires; Bergkamp, Henry.
ROSENBORG (4-3-3): E Johnsen; Russell, Hoftun, Hansen, Stensaas; Winsnes, Strand, Tettey; Helstad, F Johnsen, Storflor.
Referee: S Farina (Italy).
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