Arsenal admit Almunia is unsettled

Arsene Wenger accepts transfer speculation is unsettling Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia - but warned competition is part of life at a top football club.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with Australian international Mark Schwarzer all summer, with Fulham maintaining they have turned down two bids for the 37-year-old, believed to be in the region of £2 million.

Almunia played in the opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season at Liverpool, where he made a crucial save from Steven Gerrard's free-kick after a last-minute own goal by Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina hauled Arsenal level.

However, the Spaniard afterwards admitted the constant rumours surrounding his position were distracting, and hinted if an experienced stopper like Schwarzer came in then he would consider his own future at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger will keep faith with the 33-year-old for Saturday's visit of newly promoted Blackpool, but maintained no one player can be guaranteed a place in the starting XI.

"For us what is important at the moment in front of a big game is that we focus on the players we have," the Arsenal manager said.

He added: "Almunia is number one - it is important that we give him the needed confidence, that we trust him, that we focus on tomorrow's game."

Wenger, though, accepted: "It is a very sensitive subject which is difficult for me to talk about.

"You can understand that he is unsettled by that situation, but on the other hand, when you play at Arsenal, that is what you have to deal with.

"You have to be strong enough to deal with that and I believe he is.

"Jens Lehmann had to deal with that situation because at some stage I took him out of the team and played Almunia, so competition is part of our world. We have to accept that."