Sad, Just Sad

Arsene Wenger has a very serious matter to confront when the season ends. It's not if William Gallas should be offered more than a one year contract. It's not whether to cut his losses with Theo Walcott. It's not whether or not Pedro Botelho should be brought in to compete for the left back post with Kieran Gibbs - Clichy is awful. Arsene's problem is who he will sign to replace the two clowns who pose as goalkeepers.

I feel no need to analyze the match. At times it was fairly entertaining. Mostly, it was sloppy and hard to watch.

We went to Porto knowing that defensive mistakes would be unacceptable.

We conceded two goals from defensive mistakes.

We went to Porto after keeping a clean sheet against a resurgent Liverpool.

We conceded two goals from defensive mistakes.

We went to Porto with an ever narrowing margin for error.

We conceded two goals from defensive mistakes.

It's quite sad what's happened. The only positive is that Sol Campbell seems to have repaid Wenger with a vital away goal. Of course that also depends on how we do in the second leg.

Fabianski may have impressed Arsene enough at some point to sign him. I haven't seen anything to convince me that this clown is any better than Almunia, himself a clown of the highest order. How can we win if our keepers are so shite?

It's hard to stand by these guys. I do so simply because they are Arsenal players. I'm not advocating undermining the manager but enough is enough. We can count ourselves lucky to still be in contention for anything this season considering the way the goalkeepers (and Clichy) have performed.

Can you think of the last time a goal came from Sagna's side of the pitch? Can you think of the last time you watched us and felt convinced that we wouldn't concede because the keeper was solid? Can you think of any reason why I should trust our keepers and first choice left back?

As usual, you can say that we've lost as a team - the contributions of Denilson, Cesc, and Vermaelen were clearly not their best. Rosicky failed to do enough for the manager to allow him to finish 90 minutes for the first time this season. Bendtner did some things well but overall was not a major threat. Nasri was ok. Sol Campbell, Sagna, and Diaby were the only ones who had decent games. I understand not saying so publicly but at the end of the day, it was the keeper who let us down AGAIN.

It has got to be dealt with at the first opportunity. Unfortunately that cannot happen until the close season. I'm looking forward to signing two reliable keepers. Our stature and ambitions warrant a world class no. 1. I'd keep Mannone and Szczesny to battle it out for third choice and let Almunia and Fabianski go.

Go as far away from our club as possible, please.

If you're thinking that there are no keepers available, I say there can't be many worse than what we have. For starters, Mark Schwarzer is far better than our frauds. Outside England, the France no. 1 Hugo Lloris and fellow countryman Sebastien Frey are good enough. From Spain, Diego Lopez has always impressed me. The Italian Gigi Buffon needs no introduction. That's a very rough and short list right off the top of my head.

Come on Arsene! Surely the Arsenal scouting system can find us two keepers. I can only imagine how many Arsenal goalie jokes that must be making the rounds.