Emirates boss tried his best to bring in keeper before the transfer deadline!
Arsenal were thrice thwarted in their attempts to bring in a new goalkeeper before the transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday, according to reports.
The club’s interest in Fulham stopper Mark Schwarzer was no secret and the Australia No.1 wanted to move to the Emirates Stadium.
However, the Cottagers were less than happy to part with the 37-year-old and warned the Gunners off.
After that rejection, they turned their attention to Manchester City’s Shay Given, after he suggested he would look to move on if he wasn’t deemed as first choice.
After Joe Hart was installed as No.1 at Eastlands, Wenger decided the Irishman would be his second choice, if the Schwarzer deal fell through – which it did.
It was after Fulham made an enquiry for Given that they decided to keep hold of Schwarzer, as the City keeper told them he did not want to move to Craven Cottage.
This did not deter Arsenal from using Champions League football to try and lure Given down to London but, again, Given wanted to stay and fight for his place.
That drove Wenger to enquire about Stoke City’s supposedly wantaway Bosnian youngster Asmir Begovic in the closing hours of transfer deadline day. (Give Me Football – Official PFA Website)
Ask any Arsenal fan about there thoughts on Arsene Wenger’s transfer window activity and there will be a resounding response relaying their dismay at the lack of a keeper signing, this source makes it clear that the Gunners boss did indeed try to resolve this issue but failed to capture any of his three deadline day targets.
Clearly the Emirates manager wanted Mark Schwarzer but Fulham boss Mark Hughes had no intention of selling, at least not at the price that the north London club were offering to pay and as a result alternatives were scoped out.
Shay Given would have been most Arsenal fans dream choice but it seems obvious that Roberto Mancini would never sanction such a deal as he appears reticent to sell players to rival clubs. That left a last ditch attempt to nab Bosnian international Asmir Begovic, who has impressed many when selected by Tony Pulis.
The Stoke City keeper also recently fell out with the Potters boss so one wonders just how hard Wenger tried to complete such a deal as it seems likely that if a large enough fee was offered then perhaps he would have been offloaded by the club.
Now Wenger has to hope that Manuel Almunia avoids the blunders that so characterized his performances last term.
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