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Manuel Neuer: midfield general. Goalkeeper’s sliding tackle and touch map are insane

Published 16:10 13 Dec 2014 GMT

Updated 18:50 13 Dec 2014 GMT

Conan Doherty
Manuel Neuer: midfield general. Goalkeeper’s sliding tackle and touch map are insane

Homesport

This man could just be the enforcer Arsenal are looking for.

Did someone say Arsene Wenger needs a player to roll up his sleeves, break up the play, control the tempo from a disciplined anchor position?  Step forward, Manuel Neuer. The Bayern Munich stopper is no stranger to life beyond his 18-yard box but he's starting to take the piss now. The German champions romped home 4-0 away to Augsburg and every touch the World Cup winners' number one took was greeted with jeers from the home fans.  We'd be booing too if he was spoiling the fun for our attackers like this. Neuer's touch map of a goalless first half shows he's never content to just sit back and watch.  Some defenders don't play as high a line as Manuel does.  For God's sake, Michael Carrick drops deeper. And what about this absolutely, crazily, brilliant piece of play? Just remember, he is actually a goalkeeper. A goalkeeper...

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Manuel Neuer: midfield general. Goalkeeper's sliding tackle and touch map are insane