Champions League: Barcelona - Arsenal 3-1, 8 March 2011

One player's bad luck is another's good luck. During the Championship League match Barcelona - Arsenal Wojciech Szczęsny was ruled out by an injury. Manuel Almunia took his place in Arsenal's goal and used his chance well. He made 8 saves. Quite an achivement when one has to face players like Messi and Villa.

Quite surprising how it all happened. Manuel Almunia was ruled out by the injury of an elbow at the very beginning of this season. Łukasz Fabiański took his place and stayed as No. 1 till the fatal injury of an shoulder caused that he is not going to play in this season any more. Wojciech Szczęsny was next in the line and was doing well, but now he is going to face at least six weeks break.

It was said that Almunia might leave Arsenal in the winter transfer window. It was not first time when he seemed to be just one step away from being send away. But he did stay. And if he is going to keep up the good shape I'm not sure if Szczęsny is going to regain the place in the goal easily. So far Almunia had two good performances - in the Championship League against Barcelona and in FA Cup against Manchester United. Both were lost by Arsenal, quite true, but the goalkeeper saved all what he could.

Jerzy Dudek injuried

Jerzy Dudek is ruled for six weeks after fracturing his jaw in Champions League Real Madrid - Auxerre match which took place on Wednesday.

Official information from realmadrid.com:

"Jerzey Dudek was examined by maxillofacial specialists at Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital on Thursday. After confirming the diagnosis of a fractured manidble made by Real Madrid-Sanitas Medical Services on Wednesay, the goalkeeper was successfully fitted with an intemaxillary fixation device. He will be evaluated over the next 7-10 days by Real Madrid-Sanitas Medical Services and may be healthy enough to return in 4-6 weeks depending on his progress."

What a bad fate. He has so rarely a chance to play. This time he was supposed to play in that one game of Champions League, replacing Iker Casillas.

He did extremly well, in the first half he saved his team twice from losing a goal. Unfortunately, when in 43' he run out of the goal to clear the ball he crashed with Contout. Had to leave the pitch and Antonio Adan replaced him.

Hold up, Jerzy. Hope you will recover quickly.

Video highlights of the game, Real Mardid vs Auxerre 4-0

Champions League: Partizan Belgrad - Arsenal 1:3, Fabiański photos

Few photos with Łukasz Fabiański from the game and from the trainings.



A training session, Arsenal's training facilities, London Colney, England, Monday, 27 Sept 2010, a day before the match with Partizan in Belgrade on Tuesday.







Arsenal team



Celebrating after saving a penalty.

Champions League: Partizan Belgrad - Arsenal 1:3, 28 Sep 2010 video highlights

Watch video highlights of the game, including penalty saves made by both goalkeepers.

Stojković made 10 saves, Fabiański 4, mostly in the last minutes of the game. Pity that we can only see few of them in the video.

Champions League: Partizan Belgrad - Arsenal 1:3, 28 Sep 2010

They were saying Fabiański is finished in Arsenal. They were saying nobody trust him any more. The press was especially harsh on him lately. Well, the coach said that he trust him, but Fabiański wouldn't be in the goal if not the elbow injury of Manuel Almunia.

Today Fabiański had a faultless performance, saved a penalty and made important saves in the last minutes of the game.



Wish I had seen this! Looking forward to see the highlights of the match.

Now I hope that it's is not going to be a sole good performance of him, but it's going to continue in the next matches!

Champions League: Iker Casillas photos in Real Madrid - Ajax Amsterdam 2-0, 15 Sep 2010

Julio Cesar in Champions League final Inter vs Bayern 22 May 2010

Julio Cesar photos in the final match Inter vs. Bayern, the Champions League 22 May 2010. He was amazing. Great saves, especially in the second half.