Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Should Wenger Consider a Move for Mark Schwarzer?
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images What! A keeper? I am sure that several Arsenal fans think that signing a keeper would be a huge mistake, as it would hamper the rapid development of Wojciech Szczesny, who is widely seen as the future of Arsenal’s goalkeeping position for at least the next decade.
Even I echo these sentiments and wrote an article stating why the Gunners should stick with Vito Mannone, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny and shouldn’t splash the cash on a keeper. Even now, I believe in those sentiments, but nevertheless feel the Gunners should go out and sign Mark Schwarzer, Fulham’s hugely experienced keeper who was widely linked to the Gunners in the summer of 2010 when Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski continuously found new ways to embarrass themselves.
In 2010, Arsenal were in desperate need to sign a goalkeeper after Almunia and Fabianski cost the Gunners dearly with a series of blunders that undid all the hard work at the start of the season, leaving the Gunners ruing another missed chance. So in the summer of 2010, many felt it was imperative that Wenger signs an experienced goalkeeper who can provide strength and stability to the team and add leadership to the team.
Many identified Mark Schwarzer as the solution to Arsenal’s goalkeeping crisis, and he was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, but a move failed to materialize and the Gunners were stuck with Almunia and Fabianski for another season.
But this season, Arsenal season was very different with the previous season in regard with the goalkeeping crisis. While Almunia was his usual bumbling self, Szczesny and Fabianski were solid whenever they were goalkeeping, with the latter hardly making a mistake, which was a huge contrast from the 2009-10 season where all he did was make mistake.
But despite the solid performances of the duo, I feel that signing Schwarzer would be a great move in the long run, especially in regards to the careers of Fabianski and Szczesny.
Schwarzer is right now 38 years old, and despite reaching the fag end of his career, he has hardly played for any of the world’s top clubs. Right now, despite Arsenal’s trophy drought, they are still considered to be one of the world’s best, and Schwarzer would be excited at the prospect of playing for Arsenal.
One of the reasons why Arsenal fans have felt that Arsenal shouldn’t sign a keeper is because they feel that signing a keeper who is experienced would hinder the development of Szczesny and Fabianski with the prospect of losing the youngster, something Arsenal fans would rather not have.
But despite this signing Schwarzer I feel would not hamper the development of both the players but will only further it. How? At 38, there is no need to play the Australian week in and week out. While he maybe a regular starter for Fulham, he will understand that Arsenal is no Fulham, and if Arsene Wenger plays his cards properly, he can tempt the Australian to sign for the Gunners despite the Gunners not having the lure of more playing time.
The key to doing that would be to offer the right role to Schwarzer. Wenger should look to sign Schwarzer in not just a playing role but in a coaching cum playing role.
The 41-year-old veteran was signed by the Gunners as back up during the 2010-11 season but it was to a short term contract, and his contract with the club has since expired. But despite the imminent departure of Manuel Almunia, the Gunners are in no need to fill the numbers in the goalkeeping department.
But Schwarzer’s presence in the dressing room can have a great impact on the progress of both Fabianski and Szczesny.
With 661 games under his belt, he would easily become the team’s most experienced player, and his experience will come in handy.
While Szczesny was solid throughout the season, his game is far from perfect, and there are several areas that still need working on. His distribution is poor, something which has affected the team, especially when trying to hold onto a lead. Last season, I noticed that he is often extremely quick to rush from the line, a tactic he used to great effort against Barcelona. But this approach can land you in trouble on certain occasions, and that proved to be the case against Tottenham, as he conceded a penalty with a lunge on Aaron Lennon.
Michael Regan/Getty Images He is currently a raw diamond that requires work to be done, and the interaction with an experienced campaigner like Schwarzer can only reap rich rewards for the player. Szczesny mentioned during last season that working with Lehmann was extremely helpful, and working with Schwarzer will only prove to be better as the Australian is still active.
Even Fabianski, who redeemed himself last season, can learn a lot from the Australian and can look to work on his handling and judgment, something which has proved to be his Achilles heel.
But at the same time it is vital that the Polish duo or at least one of them, whoever proves to be better, gets more playing time when compared to Schwarzer. While learning from the experienced Australian is one thing, it is also vital that they play more regularly and equip themselves better.
But in such a situation, why would Schwarzer want to move to the Emirates stadium? Schwarzer might be tempted to move to Arsenal if Wenger offers him a lucrative deal with the future promise of a coaching role at Arsenal or a player cum coaching role next season itself. Arsene Wenger is a respected man in the footballing community, and Schwarzer would enjoy the prospect of working with one of the top coaches of the past decade.
Also, his experience could come in handy for the club which has been lacking an experienced player in the ranks. At the age of 38, he would command an extremely modest fee, and signing him would hardly affect the capture of any other player who has been linked with the Gunners.
While not signing him wouldn’t be a disaster, signing him would be a bold move from Wenger, one that I feel would reap rich rewards.
Both Fabianski and Szczesny are extremely talented players who have bright futures ahead of them at Arsenal, and signing Schwarzer would only help the two of them become better goalkeepers, and if Schwarzer does indeed come to Arsenal then, I think it would be a great move for all clubs involved.
Even I echo these sentiments and wrote an article stating why the Gunners should stick with Vito Mannone, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny and shouldn’t splash the cash on a keeper. Even now, I believe in those sentiments, but nevertheless feel the Gunners should go out and sign Mark Schwarzer, Fulham’s hugely experienced keeper who was widely linked to the Gunners in the summer of 2010 when Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski continuously found new ways to embarrass themselves.
In 2010, Arsenal were in desperate need to sign a goalkeeper after Almunia and Fabianski cost the Gunners dearly with a series of blunders that undid all the hard work at the start of the season, leaving the Gunners ruing another missed chance. So in the summer of 2010, many felt it was imperative that Wenger signs an experienced goalkeeper who can provide strength and stability to the team and add leadership to the team.
Many identified Mark Schwarzer as the solution to Arsenal’s goalkeeping crisis, and he was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, but a move failed to materialize and the Gunners were stuck with Almunia and Fabianski for another season.
But this season, Arsenal season was very different with the previous season in regard with the goalkeeping crisis. While Almunia was his usual bumbling self, Szczesny and Fabianski were solid whenever they were goalkeeping, with the latter hardly making a mistake, which was a huge contrast from the 2009-10 season where all he did was make mistake.
The Polish duo was brilliant, and together, they seemed to have solved the crisis the Gunners had in regards to the goalkeeping position.
But despite the solid performances of the duo, I feel that signing Schwarzer would be a great move in the long run, especially in regards to the careers of Fabianski and Szczesny.
Schwarzer is right now 38 years old, and despite reaching the fag end of his career, he has hardly played for any of the world’s top clubs. Right now, despite Arsenal’s trophy drought, they are still considered to be one of the world’s best, and Schwarzer would be excited at the prospect of playing for Arsenal.
One of the reasons why Arsenal fans have felt that Arsenal shouldn’t sign a keeper is because they feel that signing a keeper who is experienced would hinder the development of Szczesny and Fabianski with the prospect of losing the youngster, something Arsenal fans would rather not have.
But despite this signing Schwarzer I feel would not hamper the development of both the players but will only further it. How? At 38, there is no need to play the Australian week in and week out. While he maybe a regular starter for Fulham, he will understand that Arsenal is no Fulham, and if Arsene Wenger plays his cards properly, he can tempt the Australian to sign for the Gunners despite the Gunners not having the lure of more playing time.
The key to doing that would be to offer the right role to Schwarzer. Wenger should look to sign Schwarzer in not just a playing role but in a coaching cum playing role.
The 41-year-old veteran was signed by the Gunners as back up during the 2010-11 season but it was to a short term contract, and his contract with the club has since expired. But despite the imminent departure of Manuel Almunia, the Gunners are in no need to fill the numbers in the goalkeeping department.
But Schwarzer’s presence in the dressing room can have a great impact on the progress of both Fabianski and Szczesny.
With 661 games under his belt, he would easily become the team’s most experienced player, and his experience will come in handy.
While Szczesny was solid throughout the season, his game is far from perfect, and there are several areas that still need working on. His distribution is poor, something which has affected the team, especially when trying to hold onto a lead. Last season, I noticed that he is often extremely quick to rush from the line, a tactic he used to great effort against Barcelona. But this approach can land you in trouble on certain occasions, and that proved to be the case against Tottenham, as he conceded a penalty with a lunge on Aaron Lennon.
Michael Regan/Getty Images Even Fabianski, who redeemed himself last season, can learn a lot from the Australian and can look to work on his handling and judgment, something which has proved to be his Achilles heel.
But at the same time it is vital that the Polish duo or at least one of them, whoever proves to be better, gets more playing time when compared to Schwarzer. While learning from the experienced Australian is one thing, it is also vital that they play more regularly and equip themselves better.
But in such a situation, why would Schwarzer want to move to the Emirates stadium? Schwarzer might be tempted to move to Arsenal if Wenger offers him a lucrative deal with the future promise of a coaching role at Arsenal or a player cum coaching role next season itself. Arsene Wenger is a respected man in the footballing community, and Schwarzer would enjoy the prospect of working with one of the top coaches of the past decade.
Also, his experience could come in handy for the club which has been lacking an experienced player in the ranks. At the age of 38, he would command an extremely modest fee, and signing him would hardly affect the capture of any other player who has been linked with the Gunners.
While not signing him wouldn’t be a disaster, signing him would be a bold move from Wenger, one that I feel would reap rich rewards.
Both Fabianski and Szczesny are extremely talented players who have bright futures ahead of them at Arsenal, and signing Schwarzer would only help the two of them become better goalkeepers, and if Schwarzer does indeed come to Arsenal then, I think it would be a great move for all clubs involved.
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