Gunners still looking for keeper

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is growing anxious about signing a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes in 10 days.

The club has refused to confirm a report linking them with controversial former Argentina goalkeeper Carlos Roa.

Roa, 33, is out of contract at Real Mallorca from whom Arsenal signed Cameroon star Lauren two years ago, and Wenger is said to be weighing him up as a possible understudy to England veteran David Seaman.

But an Arsenal spokesperson said yesterday: ‘‘This is only speculation and, as you know, we never comment on that.’’

Wenger, however, reluctantly sold reserve keeper Richard Wright to Everton for £4m before the start of the season after the former Ipswich keeper said he needed to progress his career by playing more Premiership football, and a bid to bring in Uruguay World Cup star Fabian Carini on a year’s loan as cover for Seaman collapsed last week over the Juventus player’s wage demands.

Now the Arsenal boss says he thinks Carini will join Manchester United but Wenger has only 22-year-old Stuart Taylor as deputy to Seaman, 38.

Arsenal are unable to recall third choice Graham Stack, the Republic of Ireland U21 international, from a season’s loan at Belgian club Beveren.

On the face of it, Roa’s vast experience would make him an ideal back-up signing. He was the hero of Argentina’s World Cup penalty shoot-out triumph in France four years ago and he was Real Mallorca’s first choice up until last season.

But reports of his bizarre behaviour off the field and his unusual religious beliefs have attracted controversial headlines. He is apparently a devout Seventh Day Adventist who publicly prophesied the end of the world in 2001.

He has been in regular disputes with Mallorca and, previously, Racing Club of Argentina over playing on Sundays. At one stage in 2000 he walked out on Mallorca who still owed him £106,000 in wages, apparently intending to quit football and settle back in his native Santa Fe on a remote farm with his wife and two children.

But he returned to the Spanish island last season despite interest from both United and Real Madrid - and despite being quoted as saying: ‘‘I was a footballer because God had a plan for me but I never wanted to be. I didn’t like it and it didn’t interest me.’’

Roa, who won 16 caps for Argentina, made only 13 first-team appearances last term, though, and was relegated to number three goalkeeper at Mallorca. He did not play in either of two Champions League games against Arsenal.

At the end of the season he failed to agree terms for a new contract with Mallorca and is now a free agent.

Meanwhile, Wenger will be relieved that the Football Association has ruled out taking any action against England full-back Ashley Cole who was involved in the incident which brought Birmingham’s Aliou Cisse a sending off for a second yellow card at Highbury on Sunday.

Referee Mike Riley, having watched a video of the tackle, admitted it was not worth a booking and the consequent red card suspension which the FA has now quashed.

However, there was speculation Cole would be judged by their video advisory panel on charges of diving - especially after several incidents in which he was involved last season were quoted.

But the FA said yesterday that there would be no action taken against Cole over the Cisse case and officials are not prepared to add to that brief announcement.

Although Cisse had already cleared Cole of diving and the Arsenal youngster had vigorously protested his innocence, Wenger will certainly be glad this is not going to be another blot on Arsenal’s infamous disciplinary record.