Men Between the Sticks.

It is the end of the season. Again football fans will be out in droves commenting on how to improve their teams for next season.

A bit like what I am doing now, ironically.

But I am not going to suggest any names to strengthen my beloved Arsenal for that matter as I believe Arsene Wenger has done his homework on who will be available and suitable for this purpose.

Many have called for Wenger to find another goalkeeper to replace Manuel Almunia in goal. But for me, the Spaniards performance throughout the season has convinced me that he deserved to be between the posts.

He may not be spectacular but when called upon he performs the tasks efficiently. One noticeable aspect of his game is his preference to punch the ball rather than catching it, which is a trait almost all the continental goalkeepers have.

This season his punches have improved and more often than not he cleared potential dangerous crosses before they reach opposing players.

Early in the season I have said that Almunia would only be a stop gap measure when Jens Lehmann decides to leave/retire and before Polish youngster Lukasz Fabianski takes over. It seems the Pole has to wait a bit longer but having somebody like him would definitely keep Almunia on his toes to ensure he will remain Wenger's number one.

I definitely do not see Lehmann staying beyond this season and most likely the German will retire after the EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Of course I would like to see him keeping goal for Germany in their quest for glory in the Alps nations in June.

There are so many names have been brought forward as potential transfer target for Wenger in the goalkeeping department. Among them are Robert Green(West Ham) and Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Gomez of PSV and Bolton's Jussi Jusskelanaen.

It just that I do not see any of them coming except for Jusskelanaen who would be out of contract in the summer. Now that would be the kind of signing Wenger would make.

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