PLAYER PROFILE

Manuel Almunia

Position: Goal

Height: 6'4

Weight: 13st 7lbs

Date of Birth: 1977-05-19 Pamplona, Spain

Manuel Almunia

Arsene Wenger added Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to his squad in July 2004 with the former Celta Vigo star penning a long-term contract with the Gunners after signing for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old shot-stopper spent the previous season on loan at Albacete and made 22 appearances for the La Liga side and also enjoyed loan spells at Eibar and Recreativo Huelva during his time at Celta Vigo.

Alumnia started his career at Osasuna B and made 44 appearances for the Spanish side between 1997-99. He went on to have spells at Cartagonova and Sabadell before signing for Celta Vigo three years ago.

His first season at Highbury saw him providing some serious competition for Jens Lehmann in the Arsenal goal. When Wenger rested Lehmann in the winter months of the 2004/05 season, Almunia took his chance and kept four clean sheets. He ended the season having played 16 games, a tally which decreased to just thirteen in the 05/06 season.

His season ended on an exciting note, when he made an appearance for the Gunners in the Champions League final against Barcelona. When first-choice Lehman was sent-off after just 18 minutes, Lehman was brought on. He made several impressive saves but couldn't stop Barca from coming back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and deny Arsenal their first ever European Cup.

With Lehman now 36 and as is the case with all players over 30 at Arsenal only able to demand a 1-year contract extension, Almunia has set his sights on claiming the number 1 jersey at the Emirates Stadium. Another role Almunia has set his sights on is the England goalkeeper job - saying that when he is able to claim British citizenship in 2008 he would have no qualms about playing for the Three Lions if Spain did not select him.

However, he will need to be appearing more often for the Gunners if he is to break into either country's national side, as, in 2006/07, he was once more second choice behind Lehmann, playing only 14 games.