After Lukasz Fabianski’s disappointing performance in
the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, Arsenal fans will be cheered
by the news that Manuel Almunia expects to return from injury in
time for Sunday’s game against Middlesbrough.
Fabianski celebrated his birthday at Wembley but the Poland
international’s shaky afternoon took a disastrous turn late on when
he rushed recklessly off his line, allowing Didier Drogba to round
him easily and send Chelsea through to the final.
The stand-in keeper has been handed a chance to impress in the
first team following an ankle injury sustained by Almunia in the
first leg of the club’s Champions League quarter final against
Villarreal but the Spaniard is now closing in on a comeback.
And while Tuesday’s game against Liverpool will come too soon
for Almunia, he expects to be back for the Boro game and the first
leg of the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United at
Old Trafford next week.
“The Liverpool game on Tuesday is a bit too early, but I’ll be
totally ready for Boro on Sunday,” Almunia told the Daily Star.
However, Wenger is more cautious over Almunia’s availability for
the huge game against United, stating: “We don’t know. I don’t
know, I don’t know, personally.”
Wenger has also jumped to the defence of the under-fire
Fabianski, claiming his 2007 signing from Legia Warsaw could yet to
prove one of Europe's finest goalkeepers.
"I would not like to put too much responsibility for this defeat
on Fabianski. It would be unfair," said Wenger. "Let's see him
recover and not speak too much about what he has done.
"I believe he will be one of the best goalkeepers in the
world.
"He has the talent, he is brave, he is intelligent. Technically
he is very good.
"He was not at his best against Chelsea, but we have to accept
that. It can happen to anyone - it happened to [Petr] Cech on
Tuesday."