Wenger Presses Almunia's England Claims

The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has recommended Manuel Almunia for the England squad. The Spanish goalkeeper, who joined the club in July 2004, will be eligible for UK citizenship next year. "I could only advise you to take advantage of it and call him up for the England squad," said Wenger.

Almunia has come to prominence since replacing the demoted Jens Lehmann in August and retaining his place for every subsequent Premier League fixture. On Saturday his penalty save from Robbie Keane prevented Tottenham from taking the lead in a match that Arsenal eventually won.

The prospects of Almunia, 30, being capped for his country seem remote. He has little standing there and was on loan to Albacete from Celta Vigo when Arsenal bought him for an undisclosed fee. Spain, in addition, are well-served. The coach Luis Aragonés has Iker Casillas of Real Madrid between the posts and Liverpool's Pepe Reina on the bench.

England are less fortunate. Paul Robinson was dropped for the critical Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia and his replacement, Scott Carson, was at fault in the defeat. Fabio Capello, the new manager, has a crucial decision to make.

"At the moment, I don't have many options to play for Spain," Almunia admitted. "Spain have never, never called me. And, if other people want me, I have to study my situation. I will not close [the door] to anything."

Asked how he would respond to an overture from England, Almunia said: "I would study my situation in that case, and I would be very pleased to take a decision that would make me happy and my family happy." Pressed on his reaction if Spain and England were both to approach him, the goalkeeper made the beeping noise that confirms a Mastermind contestant has run out of time to answer the question. He did admit, though, that it would be the hardest decision of his career.

With a UK passport, Almunia would be just as eligible to turn out for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, even if it is opportunities with England that catch the eye. This would be a sensitive topic. While Owen Hargreaves was born in Canada he, unlike Almunia, can point to a bloodline allegiance through his father. The Arsenal goalkeeper is indisputably Spanish.

There would also be questioning as to whether he is really superior to the existing English candidates. Lehmann, the Germany goalkeeper, has hardly bothered to disguise his incredulity that Almunia could be preferred to him.

The Spaniard will be attempting to burnish his reputation at Fratton Park today. Arsenal's former center-half Sol Campbell should be in the Portsmouth line-up and Wenger has endorsed his protest that the spectators' verbal abuse of certain players has reached unacceptable levels.

"I have a long and heavy experience of it," said Wenger. "Sol has a big point. Why should we not be respected just because we are on [or beside] the pitch? Why do people get away with it? Because they are in a mass of people." He suggests that broadcasting footage of such individuals might at least shame them before their families.

"They are entitled to an opinion," said Wenger. "They can say to the manager, 'You are useless', but you cannot say, 'You are a fucking bastard.'"