Arsenal: Jordan Pickford Could End Goalkeeping Travesty

Arsenal are being linked with a move for Jordan Pickford. If he were to come to North London, he would end the barren goalkeeping run at the club.

The Arsenal goalkeeping landscape has been rather barren for some time. Ever since the retirement of David Seaman and the departure of Jens Lehman, Arsene Wenger has paid as much attention to it as Donald Trump does to CNN.

The Gunners have toiled from handling error to handling error, through the madness of Manuel Almunia to the daftness of Lukasz Fabianski. Hopes were raised when Petr Cech was signed nearly two years ago but, after an underwhelming second season at the Emirates, even the former Chelsea great is not performing at the required level.

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There are other, talented keepers on the books. Wojciech Szczesny is on loan at Roma and is enjoying an excellent second stint with the Italians. David Ospina has impressed in the cup competitions, displaying feline-athleticism and sharp reflexes on numerous occasions. However, neither instil confidence, particularly when marshalling a defence, commanding their box and collecting crosses.

While the sexy shot-stopping is a key aspect of goalkeeping, given the aerial demands of the Premier League, communication, awareness and sure-handedness from crosses are equally valuable skills. They are also much harder to find. Just ask Liverpool. That is why recent reports that Wenger is on the search for a new goalkeeper are so encouraging, especially when the goalkeeper in question is considered.

Jordan Pickford is just 22 years of age but his talents belie that. After being forced into the limelight after an injury to Vito Manone forced the usual Sunderland starter to the sidelines for an extended period, Pickford has demonstrated experience and skill far beyond his tender years. He is physically commanding, an adept shot stopper and is often seen communicating with his defenders, players who are far older and more experienced than him.

That is unusual to see in any player his age, especially between the sticks, a position that demands experience like no other on the pitch. If Arsenal were to invest in a goalkeeper, looking to the long-term would be a crucial aspect of the search. With the trio of Cech, Ospina and Szczesny already in the squad, there is no need to find a quick fix.

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Pickford would be a tremendous addition to the squad, one that would reap the benefits far beyond a mere two-year stint. It has been a long, hard road for Arsenal and their goalkeepers, but Pickford would be a destination well worth the wait.

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