By Alan Duffy
After initially ousting Jens Lehmann between the posts for Arsenal, Spanish ‘keeper Manuel Almunia never really impressed enough to secure the no.1 jersey for the Gunners. Now, after spending over a season on the sidelines, the 35-year-old has finally been released by Arsene Wenger. And with a whole host of fringe players bumping up the wage bills at the Emirates, expect a whole load of Arsenal squad players to be sold or released in the coming months.
So who’s for the chop? Well, the list is pretty long, to be honest. So here goes…
Denilson, Andrei Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastien Squillaci, Lukasz Fabianksi, Vito Mannone, Gavin Hoyte, Marouane Chamakh, Park Chu Young and Carlos Vela are all heading for the exit, with some expected to stay with their current loan clubs and others forced to look elsewhere for football. Add in the possible exit of Johan Djourou and Abou Diaby (and maybe Henri Lansbury) and that frees up a hell of a lot of cash for new signings and increased wages.
With all those players leaving, one wonders if any Premier League clubs will be eyeing an Arsenal cast-off or two? Surely Arshavin could be a decent purchase for the likes of Fulham (a move has already been rumoured) while given more football, Chamakh and Park could only improve at another, less high-profile Premier League club?
Wherever those players go, this summer could see Monsieur Wenger finally start to show a more ruthless side as the Gunners look to finally end that pesky trophy drought. Or he could just spunk it all on a new water slide…