Emirates boss linked with move for DW Stadium keeper but this should be an April’s fool.
Skysports.com understands that Arsenal have joined the race to land Bolton’s Ali Al Habsi.
The Oman international is currently on a season-long loan with Wigan, where at times he has performed heroics for Roberto Martinez’s side.
His arrival has seen England international Chris Kirkland relegated from the No.1 spot at the DW Stadium, and his performances have been attracting attention from across Europe.
Bolton rate the 29-year-old very highly and would be loath to lose him, but they already have the excellent Jussi Jaaskelainen as their first choice.
But skysports.com understands that Arsenal
are now very much in the reckoning.
Al Habsi had a world-class game for Wigan at Arsenal in the 3-0 defeat in January when he produced a string of top-class saves.
Arsene Wenger
Source: Sky Sports
If this story has any truth in it, which it very well may not, Arsene Wenger deserves to be shot.
This transfer move is indefensible.
Why on earth would Monsieur Wenger buy Ali A Habsi when he constantly reiterates his confidence in his current goalkeepers.
At the moment, Arsenal have a crisis in goal but that is because three keepers are injured, not because they are rubbish.
Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianksi and Vito Mannone are all highly-rated by the club and fans.
And at their ages of 20, 25 and 23 respectively they could be in the squad for a very long time.
The only criticism one may have is that they lack experience of playing at the top level over a long period and have never won a major trophy between them.
But Szczesny looked far from nervous when he was repelling wave after wave of Barcelona attacks.
So why would Arsenal go for Al Habsi? He has not played in the Premier League very long and he has not won anything in this country.
Jens Lehmann is on a short-term contract and Manuel Almunia should finally be sold in the summer so an experienced keeper could be an option.
Gianluigi Buffon is tipped to be on the Gunners radar and that makes more sense.
Nothing against Al Habsi because he is a fine shot-stopper.
I was at the game Sky Sports mention when he was ‘world class’. He was not!
He made some good saves but the Arsenal attack missed a lot of chances and should have done better with a lot of them.
Credit to Al Habsi for making the saves but he still conceded three. Hardly world class.
And if he really was that good, Owen Coyle would never let him go.
Either Sky are trying to make an April fool of us or Wenger has truly lost his marbles.
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