Almunia: Dressing room inquest saved our season

Manuel Almunia last night revealed how a dressing room inquest saved Arsenal’s season.

Arsenal keeper Almunia and his fellow 30-somethings William Gallas and Sol Campbell led a players’ crisis meeting after the club’s recent slump in form.

The showdown talks came after the Gunners' back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea left dressing room confidence at rock bottom.

But Almunia says that it is down to the few older heads in Arsene Wenger’s young team to try ro keep them in the title race after the win over Liverpool put Arsenal right back in the hunt.

The Spanish stopper revealed that he, Gallas and Campbell told the young players they need to show more character if they want to win the Premier League this season.

“We were talking about our last two games before Liverpool and we said to each other that it is not possible not to show character on the pitch. That is not possible for a team who want to be top of the table,” said Almunia.

“From the dressing room before the game with Liverpool, everyone was switched on to the game and personally I am happy with the character of the team.

“We talked more with the players individually because they are young. They are mature but they need to be told things clearly.

“When I was younger, the most experienced player would tell me about things sometimes. I was talking to William, Sol Campbell and the others - everyone was helping each other and it is a good attitude in the dressing room.”

Wenger is often criticised for not having enough experience in his dressing room and relying too much on young players.

But Almunia and Gallas are both 32 and 35-year-old Campbell has also brought some much needed experience to the dressing room.

Wenger was able to call on their knowledge to revive the confidence and belief at Arsenal and they are now back in the hunt, six points behind leaders Chelsea but with the best run-in of the three challengers.

But despite the positive result against Liverpool, Almunia did not shy away from the negative press after back-to-back defeats to United and Chelsea.

Almunia insisted Arsenal deserved the criticism - and also admitted they are only back in the race because United and Chelsea slipped up. But Almunia clearly feels the home truths expressed in the dressing room has helped Arsenal’s belief.

He added: “If we are still in the title race it is because the other teams didn’t win. We will be back in the race if if we win three or four games in a row. We saw the results and it is one more positive for us.

“The manager has got a lot of patience. He is a good man because the next day after Chelsea, he continued to spoil us. That is the sign of a good coach. He understands that we are a young side.

“We accept all the criticism. Arsenal is a big club and we deserve to be criticised because we have been playing for many years without fighting for the title. Critics are good sometimes and we accept them.

“The team is growing up and everybody accepts it because we cannot say anything when we don’t play well. We just go home and wait for the next game so we can win.

“Against United we were not on our game at any time. Against Chelsea we played well, I thought, but as soon as we switched off a bit, we lost.

“There are small points we need to improve, not technically or tactically but personally - little things that we have to show more.

“Every team will complain after they lost. Manchester United and Chelsea will be not happy and in a few games they will come back. They will say they can win their next game and be top of the table. Every team has to improve."

Almunia also insisted that, despite the speculation over Cesc Fabregas’ future, his fellow Spaniard is still focused on helping Arsenal win silverware this season.

Almunia added: “For the supporters, Cesc is a symbol of the club. For the people, he is the best. I have no doubts that he loves the club and Arsenal in general. If he has to go, he will be very sad.

“That is if he has to leave - I don’t know anything. I think nobody has any doubt that Cesc gives everything to the game. He makes tackles and fights and this is the only thing that the people can expect from him.

“These elections are normal in Spain. The presidents and people at clubs talk too much, They are in the press much more than they should be. That is my opinion. In England, I have never seen the directors in the press and so it is strange for me.”