Wenger acting on Almunia instinct

ARSENE WENGER last night revealed the moment he knew Manuel Almunia was ready to claim Arsenal’s No 1 jersey from Jens Lehmann.

For all his reputation as a man of precise habits, Wenger acts on instinct and it was a gut reaction that prompted the decision to leave out Lehmann for Saturday's 3-0 win over Birmingham.

In a recent training session, Wenger was hugely impressed by some of the incredible stops Almunia made. He witnessed one remarkable save from a Thierry Henry volley struck so sweetly that the French striker turned away assuming the ball was nestling in the net.