Ever since he was thrown in to the lion’s den against Ch*vski at Highbury a few years ago, flapping his way to gifting the visitors a point in a game we should have won, I have had my doubts about Manuel Almunia.

Would Jens Lehmann have let in the two goals that cost us the Champions League final in Paris two years ago? Who knows – and let’s not forget that if Jens Lehmann hadn’t got himself deservedly sent off, we wouldn’t have had to ask the question.

Arsène Wenger said at the weekend that the days of having towering, lumbering centre-halves is over because of the speed and demands of the modern game.

I can see what he means, but Mikael Silvestre has probably kept his place in the first team because he is not afraid to get the ball out of danger if the situation requires it, rather than play a pass which may not actually ease the pressure.

In the absence of a defence of giants (or in midfield for that matter), having a commanding goalkeeper is vital...