Almunia stresses on a good start

English giants Arsenal FC goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has stressed on having a good start by focusing right from the kick-off when the new season gets under way.

While the Gunners squad returned to London Colney for the start of pre-season training on Monday, although those with a busy summer of international duty, like captain Cesc Fabregas and England Under-21 duo Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs, have been given some extra time off.

It was a slow start to the last campaign,with five defeats from the first 14 matches, which ended Arsenal’s championship ambitions.

But Arsene Wenger’s men eventually did recover form to finish fourth, reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League.

However, goalkeeper Almunia maintains that the same mistakes cannot be made this time around.

“Overall we needed to be more focused at the start of the season,” the 32-year-old said.

“If we had all been more involved with the mission at the start of the season, it could have been a better year for us. In the last half of the season I think everyone realised what was required and you could see the results.

“I think sometimes something has to be said to make things work right and when certain things were spoken about, it proved to make people focus on things. The second half of the season showed what we can do, but you have to be fit mentally and physically from the start and be fully involved with the project of the boss.”