SOCCER: Manuel Almunia cannot be accused of lacking self-belief, even if plenty of Arsenal followers have far less confidence in his ability. The goalkeeper has declared himself "ready for the challenge" of facing Chelsea on Sunday, if selected ahead of Jens Lehmann, and "happy" with his form, writes Jon Brodkin.

The Spaniard could hardly be expected to publicly rubbish his own performances but it will cause surprise that he is content with his displays against Birmingham City and Rosenborg when he cost Arsenal a goal in the Champions League game and almost one in the Premiership match.

The 27-year-old contradicted Arsene Wenger's suggestion that he is finding it hard in the spotlight. "I'm not worried by it," he said. "I don't feel the pressure. We've won the last two games and I've been happy with my work and the team's work."

Remarks Almunia made about needing to adapt to a different style were more understandable. He said he is not used to dealing with so many crosses and he certainly struggled with his catching and punching against Rosenborg.

"Football is better here but it's harder," Almunia said. "You get more skill, it's quicker and with fast passes. It's very skilful but you also get more crosses than we are used to in Spain and the game is more physical. It is tougher physically but that is a challenge for me. I'm not a young player, I'm experienced and I have confidence in myself. I don't know what people will say about me but I want them to start talking about the good things in my game."

If Almunia is selected for Chelsea's visit it would be surely the biggest game of his career but the keeper said he would not be worried.

"I think I have shown I am capable of making saves and not letting the team down," he said. "I'm not nervous and I think the supporters will have faith in me. It is a style of football I am not used to but I am ready for the challenge and confident in myself."

He acknowledged it had been "a bit of a surprise" to get in ahead of Lehmann, who was assured by the Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann yesterday that his situation was not yet a concern. Klinsmann said he would keep an eye on events and speak to Wenger if Lehmann did not get back in the team before long.

Arsenal's immediate concern is to get a third win of the week in the toughest game of the sequence. Robert Pires said the players are relishing the challenge and hope to have proved a point by the season's end.

"We are not at all scared about the Chelsea game," he said. "In fact we are all looking forward to it. Everybody says that Chelsea are the favourites and that they will end up winning the league. But, you know, that's the perfect situation for us.

"If in the end we finish by retaining the championship and everybody has said Chelsea are favourites, then that will prove Arsenal are the better team."

Arsenal must cope this weekend without Patrick Vieira, Edu and Gilberto Silva in central midfield but Pires believes the squad has capable understudies.

"His (Vieira's) loss is a blow as he has the experience to deal with high-pressure situations," he said. "However, we have two excellent young midfielders in Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini who are more than capable of playing in his place. They are young but they have the talent. If we show them the confidence we have in them, then they will do well. It's a great opportunity for them."