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Almunia: Defeat was embarrassing
James Olley17 Nov 2008
Manuel Almunia admitted Arsenal's home defeat to Aston Villa left him embarrassed and the Gunners' title ambitions hanging by a thread.
Arsene Wenger's side turned in a tame performance as Villa swept to a 2-0 victory courtesy of a Gael Clichy own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor's late strike.
The scoreline could have been worse had Almunia not saved Ashley Young's first-half penalty and Arsenal now find themselves nine points behind joint leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, having already suffered four League defeats.
And Almunia, 31, said: "Each player has to analyse their performance because this game was the worst Arsenal game in a long, long time.
"After the penalty I thought my team would be more exciting and go with more desire to win the game. But the penalty save didn't change anything in the team and that is quite embarrassing for us.
"We have to continue first of all out of respect for the fans. Everything is possible. We have to continue to do our job but change many things from Saturday."
Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell turned up the heat on his former club by insisting it is easier to get a result against Arsenal than any of the other Big Four clubs.
Sidwell, who won the FA Youth Cup with the Gunners in 2000 but left three years later after failing to break into the first team, said: "I think you look at the top four and you come to Arsenal thinking you can pick up points.
"You look at Chelsea and Manchester United and they don't drop many points because they are more consistent than Liverpool or Arsenal.
"I don't know whether they maybe don't take their chances as well as United and Chelsea - those two are maybe more clinical in putting them away.
"And that was why we thought if we did not take our chances today we'd get punished. That's my personal opinion - that you can get points at Arsenal."
Meanwhile, Gunners striker Robin van Persie is expected to sign a new contract to keep him at Emirates Stadium until 2012.
The Dutchman, 25, is set to double his money to £70,000-a-week while talks continue over a new long-term deal for England winger Theo Walcott.
Reader views (3)
Arsenal central defence is the worst in the premiere league and WENGER need to accept this and replace them.
They are slow and old for that position,and they are only playing because they are French.They are like an accident waiting to happen, and it happened many times this season.
SIDWELL has not made the grade at Arsenal and Chelsea ,
but just because he is playing at Villa does not make him an authority inn football.You will eat your words wait and see Steve.
A.Messina
- A.Messina, Malta, 17/11/2008 12:59
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YOU ARE EMBARASSING, FAWLTY MANUEL! I think Almunia is a DISASTER, and the main reason for the team's big problems. He saves a very poor penalty, but loses the ball and is looking for it, and only Gallas coming to resuce saved him. Yet, he seems to believe he had a great game, and blames others! He has the French national team defense in front (ok, Gallas is a bit uncertain these days), and yet we concede so many goals. The clichy own goal was just a delay from last week, he almost scored an own goal because Almunia did not come out again on the cross, and Berbatov would have tapped it in had it not been for Clichy. This week, he didn't come out, and Clichy had an own goal!
Unfortunately, not many point to this problem, but seek for the reason in defence or elsewhere. I think he is useless and has no right playing at such a level, but seems Arsene has us stuck with him. At the beginning of the year I predicted that the team could be very strong, if it does not get too damaged by Almunia or Song. It seems there's no escaping that!
- Arsene Knows, Guildford, 17/11/2008 12:21
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I truly appreciate what Arsene Wenger is trying to achieve at Arsenal. However, we are desperately in need of a better goalkeeper, a tall commanding centre half & an imposing midfield player. I would love to see David Wheater, Yaya Toure & Xabi Alonso, arrive plus a top keeper.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 17/11/2008 12:08
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