Wenger refuses to blame Almunia

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declined to single out Manuel Almunia for blame after the error-prone keeper comitted two blunders as the Gunners were beaten 3-2 at home by West Bromwich Albion.

After spending the summer locked in a protracted and ultimately unsuccessful courtship of Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, Wenger decided to stick with Almunia as the transfer window closed.

But the Gunners' failure to resolve their hunt for a world class No 1 came back to haunt them at the Emirates on Saturday as Almunia was at fault for two of the Baggies goals.