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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is keen to bring Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to the Emirates to solve his goalkeeping crisis.

The Gunner’s are short of shot-stoppers after first-choice Wojciech Szczesny was the latest to join the casualty list.

The Poland international dislocated a finger saving a Dani Alves free-kick in the Champions League tie with Barcelona.

He has joined Lukasz Fabianski on the treatment table, who has been ruled out of the season with a shoulder problem.

Wenger wanted to re-call Vito Mannone from his loan spell at Hull City, but the Italian is also injured.

This leaves Manuel Almunia, who will replace Szczesny in goal for the FA Cup game with Manchester United, as the only recognised goalkeeper at the club.

Youngster James Shea is on-loan at Southampton and is un-tested at the top level. So Wenger wants to bring a player in on emergency loan as cover.

Kirkland is the manager’s preferred choice even though the England international has a chequered injury history himself.

He suffers from a bad back which needs constant treatment and a personal training schedule to manage the problem.

He has lost his place to Ali Al-Habsi and spent the first part of the season on-loan at Leicester City and was expected to move to Cardiff City but the move fell through.

Wenger believes Kirkland will provide perfect cover for Almunia as the Gunners go in search of a Premier League and FA Cup double.

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David James is as old as Methuselah(officially), Ben Foster has hands made out of butter (official), Paul Robinson still bears the scars of previous England and Tottenham gaffes, Robert Green and Chris Kirkland aren’t considered big enough names, so just who is England’s number one?

It used to be so much easier. For the best part of three decades the likes of Paul Shilton, Ray Clemence and David Seaman showed they could be a commanding influence behind the England back four but for some reason the country is now finding it hard to produce the kind of goalkeepers it used to and now Fabio Capello has to consider bringing in a Spaniard, Manuel Almunia, to man the post, such is the lack of alternatives.

Joe Hart seemed a reasonable choice for the future but after being forced out from Man City he is now doing his best at Birmingham City but is probably still a little too raw to consider as a regular starter. Scott Carson suffers from the same ticking timebomb syndrome that Robinson used to.

In many ways its the position within the England set up that caused most concern. Capello knows that having a secure backline very much hangs on the ability of the man behind that defence to marshal and organise it and it really is anyones guess who is actually the country’s number one.

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Wigan defender Titus Bramble has been tipped to make his England debut by team-mate Chris Kirkland.

Stop laughing at the back. One-cap wonder Kirkland made the comment after Bramble – pictured here beating up Djibril Cisse – dominated Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones in the Latics’ 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

“He’s been my player of the season by a mile,” said Kirkland, whose own England career has been torn apart by injuries. “He’s been performing like that every week, so I’d have to say he’s international standard.” (yahoo.eurosport)

This is classic. Now i don’t go for the idea of simply laying into a useless player just because it’s become something of a national pastime but the idea that Bramble should be capped by England is so laughable that i had to double check what i was reading to make sure i wasn’t losing my mind!

If Fabio Capello names the former Newcastle man in his line up, let alone a squad call up, i will personally eat my knee caps! Are there any other players fans think should be in line for an England cap?

“He’s a superb goalie and, no disrespect to the other keepers, he should be in,” said Redknapp.

“He’s top man and he’s been absolutely brilliant for me. He has been frightening for us. I don’t think there’s anyone that comes near him now.

“He’s the best goalkeeper in the country and he would definitely be my England number one.

“He might be 37 but Capello would remember Dino Zoff winning the World Cup at 40. Jamo will play on until he’s 40-odd.

“He’s got older and more experienced and he’s an absolutely fantastic keeper.”

James has got the perfect opportunity to impress this evening after being selected ahead of his rivals to play Switzerland. With Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland currently being his closest rivals, he has every chance of keeping the shirt for many years to come.

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