20110311

Almunia: Slipped down pecking order
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has praised Manuel Almunia for his ‘professional and very dignified attitude’.
The Spaniard has endured a frustrating time of late, having slipped down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium.
Despite starting the season as the Gunners’ first-choice shot-stopper, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny have since clambered above him.
Almunia has never questioned his demotion, though, and continues to go about his business in an understated fashion.
His patience was rewarded on Tuesday when he was thrust into the European spotlight in a UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Impressed
Having replaced the injured Szczesny at Camp Nou, there is now every chance that he will be involved from the start when Arsenal face Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Wenger insists he would have no problem returning the 33-year-old to his starting XI, with Almunia’s attitude deserving of a leading role.
“He is very professional, has a very dignified attitude and overall he has done very well,” he told the club’s official website.
“Yes, he has done quite well when he came on against Barcelona and was quite busy in the final part of the game and he did very well.
“When I took Jens Lehmann out, who had made only one mistake, and put Almunia in, Lehmann came in the next day and fought even harder. That’s what I believe our job is about.”
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Wenger lauds Almunia attitude
