What would happen if Wojciech Szczesny fell injured? Arsenal need a reliable proven Premier League stopper capable of filling in between the sticks.
In Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone – currently on loan at Hull City- the Gunners do not possess an understudy players and fans alike can be confident in.
Instead, these three keepers represent more excess baggage the club needs to get rid of.
For me, one man who would provide both reliable cover and push number one Szczesny to work even harder than he has been since breaking into the side back in December 2010, is Newcastle United’s Steve Harper.
The 36-year-old is Newcastle’s current longest serving player after joining the club 19 years ago in 1993 and has one season left on his contract.
However, it is reported that owner Mike Ashley is willing to let him go at the end of the season and I think Arsenal should pounce.
As well as being competitions which should be taken seriously, both the FA and League Cups should also give managers the opportunity to rest first team players and give the rest a chance to impress and I can’t see why bringing in Steve Harper as Arsène Wenger’s “cup keeper” wouldn’t work.
Stoke City proved it can last season when Thomas Sørensen lost his place to Asmir Begović but played in all of the club’s FA Cup games, including the final against Manchester City.
Playing Harper in the cups would give Szczesny some beneficial rest time but still give Arsenal the experienced head between the sticks which is needed in order to progress.
After spending the majority of his career acting as a back up goalkeeper to the likes of Pavel Srnicek, Shaka Hislop and Shay Given, Harper has again been left further frustrated with the emergence of young Dutch stopper, Tim Krul.
So would he want to see out his career at a club where he would be, yet again, second choice or would the move be perfect for him? What do you think?
image: © mikebrown59
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