MANUEL ALMUNIA had his Arsenal future thrown into doubt last night when boss Arsene Wenger refused to back the under-fire keeper.
Asked if Almunia was too weak, Wenger said: "I don't think it is the best moment to talk about that.
"I never said he will be my long-term No 1."
Wenger, whose hopes of a Champions League and Premier League double collapsed in the space of a week, is certain to spend on a new keeper.
Almunia has delivered a number of poor performances while No 2 Lukasz Fabianski is not considered good enough to take over.
Wenger added: "Almunia is a great keeper and is in competition with Fabianski. I want to see how we finish so I don't think it's the best period to talk about individual players."
Yet Wenger did confirm that he is certain to sign a big-money defender in the summer. Thomas Vermaelen, a £10million buy from Ajax last July, has been a huge success but is out for the rest of the season with a calf injury.
And doubt remains whether Wenger will offer Sol Campbell a new deal while crocked William Gallas will also be a free agent.
Wenger said: "There is a need there. We are depending on Gallas and I'll have to sit down with Sol.
"If he's on board, focused and motivated, he's an important player."
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