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Home   >   Features   >   Part 1 Of ‘Arsene’s Millions’ – Goalkeeper: 3 Potential Summer Targets

Part 1 Of ‘Arsene’s Millions’ – Goalkeeper: 3 Potential Summer Targets

By on February 26, 2013

With reports circulating in the newspapers suggesting Arsene Wenger will be handed up to £70m to spend on new signings in the summer, I will be running a feature called ‘Arsene’s Millions‘ where I will go through each position in the team and give some potential targets the boss could go for. First up: goalkeepers.

I’ve always been a huge admirer of Wojciech Szczesny’s. Ever since he was 17 I’ve backed him to go on to become Arsenal’s number 1 and sure enough he’s made it. However, I think it’s all come too soon for the young Pole. He’s just 22 and is already closing in on 100 first team appearances for Arsenal but a series of errors this season has shown he’s not quiet ready to be a regular at a ‘top’ club just yet.

It’s not his fault, he was thrust into the first team to replace the hapless Manuel Almunia at just 20 years of age when Arsene Wenger should have brought in an experienced stopper Szczesny could learn from. Reports have suggested the boss will finally bring in a new keeper in the summer and here are three realistic options he could go for:

Julio Cesar

The Brazilian stopper has been a revelation this season since joining Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer from Inter Milan. The Italians let him go as they thought he was past his best but he’s proved them wrong with a string of impressive display’s for the west Londoners. I was at the Emirates back in October when he put in a MOTM display to keep us at bay until a late Mikel Arteta tap in finally got past him.

At 33-years-old he’s still got a few years left in him at the top and would bring with him a wealth of experience which includes over 450 club appearances and 65 caps for Brazil. QPR look certain for the drop and if they do get relegated to the Championship, Cesar will most likely leave and we should be heading the queue for his signature.

Asmir Begovic

The Bosnian has been superb between the sticks for Stoke City since joining from Portsmouth in 2010 and has earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers. At 25 he’s coming to the prime of his career and still has plenty of time to develop further.

Stoke have already brought his replacement in Jack Butland and a move for Begovic looks a certainty in the summer. Manchester United and Liverpool have been strongly linked but Wenger could also have his eye on him.

Victor Valdes

The Spaniard is on his way out of Barcelona after confirming he wont be renewing his contract – which expires in 2014. There are reports that suggest the Catalans will look to cash-in this summer and replace Valdes, with the 31-year-old being heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Manchester United being linked as well as Arsenal.

I’m not 100% convinced by him but he’s far more experienced than Szczesny and would at least provide the Pole with some serious competition for the No.1 jersey.

Verdict

Of the three listed above I would say Julio Cesar would be the ideal signing. I still see Szczesny as our long-term first choice keeper so wouldn’t want anybody too young signed, which is why I’d take Cesar over Begovic. We just need an experienced keeper to come in for a couple of years to teach young Wojciech the ropes and steady the ship.

Do you think we need another goalkeeper this summer? Who would you like to see signed?

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