It’s Vito Vs the Woj. But the sooner that battle is over the better for Arsenal
September 20, 2012
Morning all and a happy Spursday to each and every one of you.
With the first round of Champions League games now out of the way we get to see our scrappy win against the French champions in slightly better context. Our opponents on Sunday, Man City, lost away to Real Madrid, Chelsea only drew despite being 2-0 up at home to Juventus and last night I watched Man United somehow scrape by a Galatasaray side who hit the post twice and were denied three pretty convincing looking penalty shouts.
I don’t know what sort of magical chalk they use to paint on those penalty areas at Old Trafford but I wish we could track down the supplier and use a bit of it at the Emirates.
Anyway, the point is it’s a good start and it’s important to remember that we achieved it without our regular number one between the sticks. Or did we? Vito Mannone has been chatting to the press and seems to be under the impression that things may be shifting on that front:
I had two clean sheets in the first two games I played and before the Southampton game the boss talked to me and for the first time I felt he understood I was ready to be No.1.
As he said, I am really close to the shirt. At the minute I hope after this result, something’s changed.
It’s a bit odd that what Wenger said to him before the Southampton game convinced him he was ready to be number one when presumably what Wenger said to him before the Southampton game was ‘Err, Vito? I’m dropping you for the Southampton game because Wojciech is fit again.’
If anything has pushed Vito closer to the number one spot it’s what Szczesny did during that Southampton game and to Mannone’s credit he came back in for the Montpellier tie and did well for himself. Well, he didn’t do anything particularly badly. I mean I’m struggling really to remember him doing much of anything but then that’s usually a good sign where goalkeepers are concerned, right?
I suppose my reticence to accept Mannone as a viable option for first choice is partly due to all too clear memories of clangers past and partly due to never really having seen him play what I would call an exceptional game. I know he had that wonder match against Fulham a few years back but that was one of the rare games in this internet age that I managed to miss entirely so I don’t have that imprint on my psyche.
However he did well on loan at Hull last year by all accounts, something that he’s been keen to talk up:
To be honest, every goalkeeper has his own path. I had mine.
I had bad times and I just rolled up my sleeves and worked hard. Then, I thought, ‘Let’s go to Hull.’
That might be my favourite footballer quote of the year so far. It’s like the prelude to a brilliant action montage in a gangster flick. ‘What are we gonna do, boss?’ ‘I’ll tell you what we’re gonna do…Let’s go to Hull’.
Presumably he was pretty excited about the prospect of that particular trip then? Or…maybe not so much:
Nobody wants to go there really
Fair enough.
But I found myself really well. I found a good club, good fans and I gained experience.
I played games as a No.1 – 24 in a row – so that’s what I needed. It helped me going onto the pitch thinking, ‘OK, I can be a No.1 now.’
I learned how to be a No.1, really. When you play games in a row and you have games every three days, it is a big challenge because you need to recover well and prepare for the next one again.
If, unlike me, you can learn not to snigger every time somebody describes themselves as a ‘number one’ it’s encouraging to hear Vito’s self-belief and conviction that he’s overcome some of his early issues and turned himself into a keeper good enough to play week in week out for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
More than any other position on the pitch, goalkeepers need that confidence and if he is going to challenge Wojciech this season that’s going to be essential.
Personally I’m yet to be convinced that he has it in him but I’d be happy to be proved wrong. I think I’d be happier still if Szczesny shook off his ankle problem, came back into the side and showed all the doubters that his is just a minor period of poor form and that he’s ready to fulfil all the potential that I’m convinced he has.
But maybe that’s just because the prospect of a season long battle for the goalkeeping jersey depresses me slightly. Goalkeeping battles tend to focus on ‘who made the most mistakes and when’ and can often end with one or both of the candidates sitting in a reserve team somewhere, their once promising career in tatters.
Apart from anything else I want to remember this season for what was going on at the other end of the pitch. The sooner all questions over who should be between the sticks are answered the better.
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Comments
23 Responses to “It’s Vito Vs the Woj. But the sooner that battle is over the better for Arsenal”
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you chat utter bollocks mate
Two years ago when SCZESNY started reigning in Arsenals goal post VITO was ten times better than him.SCZESNY,S immaturity caused ARSENAL a
lot of heartaches.Arsenal plumeted and nose dived in pedigree under him.That year Arsenal inthe last 11 games put up a performance under him worst than that of relegated clubs managing only 11 points from 11 games.We threw away the CARLING CUP that year in his reign with a woeful performance in all 2 goal netted against Arsenal.To be candid he improved in performance as time went though ARSENAL had suffered.He learnt even basic goal keeping skills while he was No 1 for Arsenal.I wondered why this happened because Mannone had all skills SCZESNY lacked ab-initio.Even now as I WRITE NO READER SHOULD STILL BE BLIN FOLDED.VITO MANONNE is a undisputably Arsenals No 1
Thanks, gav.
Appreciate the feedback.
manone shld continue schecny thinks he is a world class keeper! he is not and his arrogance is his main undoing.arsenal still need a world class keeper
Arsene will pick the one in possession unless he gets injured or xxxxs right up.
They can push each other to perform better.
I don’t mind if this debate of who is the No. 1 goal keeper goes on for a while if that is the case.
Is there a possibility that Gav comes from Hull?
I like the idea of two young, promising keepers duking it out for the No.1 spot, in theory it could produce good performances from both, but security also breeds confidence so we’ll have to wait and see who performs better and more consistently over the coming season.
We need our defence to stay strong either way, to reduce the amount of work required from both keepers.
I don’t think two or three matches can judge a good goalkeeper while a single error in a match can’t turn a good goalie to bad one. Szchezny need to be challenged but challenger must prove himself on the field not by mouth .
More than any other position the Glove Butler (thanks Arsenal Gent) only ever seems to be as good as his last game in the eyes of many fans. Szcz made a mistake in the Southampton game and all of a sudden Mannone is brilliant. Personally I prefer Szcz but I want to see both develop at Arsenal so we have two excellent keepers who keep each other on their toes. At the other end of the pitch its going to be interesting what’s happening to Walcott, I noticed no one especially celebrating his goal. I think he’s still got something to offer but if not what about a swap for Demba Ba in January? Seen this in the Mirror? http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/the-arsenal-column-theo-walcott-wants-1333959
Should be a good year for those of us who understand that goalkeepers are the real brains behind every decent football team, ( the other 10 pawns being merely runners to be commanded by a super tactician between the sticks). With Julio Cesar, Hugo Lloriss ( if he can ever dislodge the amazing Brad), Joe Hart and ‘Szczes’ all now in the EPL. All we need is Gigi Bouffon and Iker Casillas to get on board next year!!
For me Szczesny is Arsenal’s No 1 and should be given the time to prove is undoubted class. Vito is an honest, decent keeper who will improve hugely still but not in the same league when it comes down to the qualities needed at the top table. Hope he stays on as decent cover.
looks like all the lads are gaining their potentials at the right time.
i mean look at Diaby..Gavinho..and now Vito. i wish scillachi Charmak and Arshavin c’d learn from this.
VM is growing fast in stature..However, WS is still No 1 for me..except i have bitten my tangue many times trying to pronounce his name!
still cant figure this out!
gav, maybe you should change the last letter of your name to make it more fitting…
Another good read, cheers.
With just the goalkeeper debate on the agenda, no troubles in paradise…
Gav’s comment @9:50 was a real eye opener, we need more detailed and comprehensive posts like this ‘you chat utter bollocks mate’ FULL STOP, Wow. infact reading it again gives me goosebumps, Bravo!
Eh MH, today’s post was hilarious, ‘Nobody wants to go there really’ Same thing most stoke city players tell their agents before signing new contracts.
As for the GK battle, Szescney is still No1 in my eyes, if he continues to do the Alumunia then he has to be relegated to the bench. During the whole of last season Szesney dropped the ball only TWO times, his gaff against southampton was pretty bad but catching the ball has never been a problem, that is actually the best part of his game, dominating the penalty area. He also has his flaws, distribution and shot stopping can still improve but in my opinion he remains the best keeper at Arsenal.
What, Gak? His plastic content is probably far too low for that one to make sense, mind you it’s reported to have similar effects to estrogen. But then, I assume you’re not dumb enough to be saying he should change that ‘V’ into a ‘Y’? Because you’d have to be incredibly dumb indeed.
Topats – I pronounce Szczesny as ‘S-shez-knee’ but refer to him as ‘the szczizznit’.
Topats, what’re you smoking man, Squillaci made his debut for the Arsenal U21′s not so long ago, he will soon break into the first team.
@ MH – top post, I have for your information now bookmarked this site. I have no idea why I didn’t come across it sooner.
Having seen Mannone play for Hull, I was a fully paid up fan, until seeing him all jittery in goal during the Emirates cup, where AW had obviously said go out there and fight for the No.1 and Mannone flopped. Then he had another chance in the CL and he made a laughing stock of himself. I handed in my fan club membership that day. Luckily for Mannone though, I am just an armchair manager and not AW who is clearly much more patient.
I have watched Mannone play for Hull and he looked strong and I even think he would of got a couple of assist’s had the Hull forward had better technique, as he released the ball so quickly and accurately he started counter attacks. I know he is 3rd choice but he knew when to hold on to the ball to give his players a chance to get into position, he can kick the ball with precision and can throw the ball a long distance. I am not saying he doesn’t have the ability, but I have yet to see him pull off a double save like Chesney has and I am nervous am nervous about his punching. Overall though, I don’t think there is as much distance in quality as people might think between the two.
@ MH – I totally understand why you want a quick resolution though, as it is never nice when sections of the fanbase turn on a player who is picked over their favorite. I am not opposed to rotation of our GK’s as I don’t see why the defence can’t work with any of the three keepers for any given game as after all, they themselves will be subject to rotation and it’s all about positional play and shape. The players train with all the keepers and so I don’t see why we need to have a quick resolution.
Also the positive spin on the GK situation is that every one of them knows that they have to play out of their skin when they get the chance. I am not 100% sold on Chesney as our No.1 and I like what I have seen of Don Vito this season so far. I definitely foresee a massive headache looming for Arsene Wenger in the near future.
Thanks, Goona Gal.
Good to have you on board.
If I had to choose which one I would prefer end up long term as being the better player it’s Woj because of how damn entertaining he is to watch. He also just radiates confidence (which Vito just doesn’t). I’ve seen Vito in far less games, so it’s harder to judge him (and his mistakes haven’t been matched by heroism like Woj). Both Fabianski and Woj seem to have more visually appealing athleticism about their dives, now whether that translates to actual shot stopping, I can’t be positive.
In regards to Fabianski as well, what is up with Arsenal fans and calling him “Flappyhandski” and just “Flappy.” Don’t they realize that could get in his head and affect his confidence in a position where that’s vital? Complaining about his mistakes is one thing, but saddling him with a nickname like we’re 10 year olds on the playground just seems so counterproductive!
@ Justin P
“…saddling him with a nickname like we’re 10 year olds on the playground…”
Couldn’t agree more, mate. Mind you, “Flappyhandski” is not only clever, but bloody funny too!
What do you think marble balls?
Big Al, age 10