Norwegian Gunner gives more info on Jarstein
13 comments October 10th, 2007
I don’t mind being corrected, especially when I’m wrong. So when Norwegian Gunner emailed me to expand upon my post about our potential new goalkeeper, I was delighted. Read on:
Norwegian Gunner here. Thought I’d give you some more info about Jarstein.
He recently made his debut, sure, but he’s nowhere near ‘undisputed’ as the best in Norway. Brann’s HÃ¥kon Opdal has been the number one for the last six months (ever since former Charlton/Everton goal keeper Thomas Myhre made some horrible mistakes againt Bosnia and Turkey). Jarstein is the second or third choice for the national side, having been third for the most part.
I personally think he’s the best by far, but the national coach doesn’t agree. Undisputably the best? Not by a long shot.
As for the kind of keeper he is, he’s big, athletic, and decent both at shot stopping and field work. He’s big, and perhaps most important for Arsene, crazy. Buying him would be like buying Jens jr. This last season he’s gotten sent home at half time for yelling at his teammates, and he won’t back down to anyone if he thinks he’s right. A lot of Norwegian pundits think he’s got serious issues.
As for Arsene buying him? I see us getting him for maybe £1.5m, which would be a great buy. He could definitely become the next Cech (probably the top goal keeper he resembles the most).
The next Cech? Wow. No pressure there then.
As for him being a mentalist, after a few years of Jens I could maybe do with a spot of calm. If Jarstein does arrive, I imagine he’ll be playing second or third fiddle to one of Almunia or Fabianski, and his price-tag reflects that.
Read Martin Samuel on Wenger/Usmanov. Interesting stuff.
And that’s your lot. Don’t like it? Blame UEFA. I hate International week.
