Rami Glad to be a Gunner Again

Rami Glad to be a Gunner Again

Date: 19-2-2004
Wrote: EP's reporter Karem Ahmed

Rami Shaaban returned to Highbury after his loan spell with West Ham, which didn't go as he had wanted. The first team action he had wished to gain did not come for him and he has returned to his club to battle for a place in the team once again. EP caught up with the goalkeeper and got his views on being back at Highbury.

Rami remembers his debut...

Rami Shaaban found the first team place at West Ham, which was expected to be his, taken by young goalkeeper Steve Bywater who showed some impressive displays. Although the loan spell was therefore unsuccessful for Shaaban, he admitted he was glad to be back. "I'm happy to be back" he declared. Commenting on his return to training Rami said, "I had my first training session today but we were short of numbers because the national teams are playing at the moment... But we had players like Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Reyes and Henry in training so it was good quality anyway."

Shaaban had wished to use his loan period at West Ham to impress his bosses so that he can be offered a new contract at Arsenal. The result of his loan will therefore be a disappointment to him, but he is still optimistic about the future, although remaining realistic about the reluctance of the Arsenal management to make changes in such a successful team. He also revealed his feeling that he is at the top of his game, after recovering from his long term injury.

"About my future, I will have a discussion with the boss in one or two weeks to get his view on the situation and then take it from there. I hope I will get the chance sooner rather than later because I feel I'm in good form and even stronger than before, when I got the chance for my debut against PSV in the Champions League... But we haven't lost a game yet this year so there is no point in changing and that I am aware of. But in football it goes very quickly, so I have to train hard and wait for my chance."

More on Rami soon...

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Read older reports on Rami in Rami Shaaban's page
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