mystery solved : the REAL reason why Almunia was left on bench
Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia's secret family tragedy revealed
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has been coping with a family tragedy which has left him devastated.
Almunia has been comforting his wife since his mother-in-law was killed in a car crash in Spain six weeks ago.
Although the 32-year-old showed immense professionalism and stuck rigidly to his training schedule, manager Arsene Wenger decided Almunia should be given time to deal with the tragedy and left him out of the first-team line-up.
Almunia was restored to the side for yesterday's North London derby after Wenger witnessed at first hand in training how Almunia was back to the form that made him first choice.
Prior to that his place had been taken by young Italian Vito Mannone.
But since a stunning first match at Craven Cottage in which he single-handedly kept the Fulham strike force at bay, mistakes have crept into Mannone's game in recent weeks.
First came a weak clearance against Birmingham that allowed the Midland side back into the game. And at Upton Park a week ago, Mannone pushed a free-kick from Alessandro Diamanti into the path of Carlton Cole to spark West Ham's comeback.
[source]
It was so sad to read news like this. Especially when everyone speculated that he was benched on the first place because he's not good enough anymore, when the real reason is something that is so heartwrenching. Poor Almunia...
Hold on and stay strong, Almunia!
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has been coping with a family tragedy which has left him devastated.
Almunia has been comforting his wife since his mother-in-law was killed in a car crash in Spain six weeks ago.
Although the 32-year-old showed immense professionalism and stuck rigidly to his training schedule, manager Arsene Wenger decided Almunia should be given time to deal with the tragedy and left him out of the first-team line-up.
Almunia was restored to the side for yesterday's North London derby after Wenger witnessed at first hand in training how Almunia was back to the form that made him first choice.
Prior to that his place had been taken by young Italian Vito Mannone.
But since a stunning first match at Craven Cottage in which he single-handedly kept the Fulham strike force at bay, mistakes have crept into Mannone's game in recent weeks.
First came a weak clearance against Birmingham that allowed the Midland side back into the game. And at Upton Park a week ago, Mannone pushed a free-kick from Alessandro Diamanti into the path of Carlton Cole to spark West Ham's comeback.
[source]
It was so sad to read news like this. Especially when everyone speculated that he was benched on the first place because he's not good enough anymore, when the real reason is something that is so heartwrenching. Poor Almunia...
Hold on and stay strong, Almunia!