Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny Future On The Fence

Arsenal’s one-time first-choice goalkeeper spent last season on loan at AS Roma, getting the first-team football he craved and earning most impressive reviews from his coaches and supporters.

Prior to last season, Arsenal secured the services of longtime Chelsea Goalkeeper Petr Cech. The signing of the seven-time Czech Footballer of the Year brought an end to the uncertainty at the Goalkeeper position at Arsenal Football Club.

However, Cech’s arrival led to increasing speculation about Wojciech Szczesny’s future at Arsenal. Szczesny started the 2014/15 campaign as the number one goalkeeper but lost his place in January to Colombian David Ospina due to his inconsistent performances on the field and his naive actions off it.

On arrival, Cech became the undisputed starter at Arsenal and Szczesny departed for AS Roma on loan. Arsene Wenger’s patience with the Pole seemed to have snapped.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) David Ospina and Petr Cech – the main competitors for Wojciech Szczesny at Arsenal – before a training session at London Colney on February 22, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /

Szczesny started 34 of Roma’s 38 Serie A games last season. Despite being dropped for a league game against Atalanta in December after again being caught smoking in the showers. He was an ever-present figure after Rudi Garcia was sacked in January and helped guide Roma to a third place finish and a Champions League play-off spot.

Szczesny has made plain his desire to return to Serie A. However the Polish international’s future in both Italy and England remains up for debate with Roma signing Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson from Internacional and Cech being the obvious first choice in North London.

Despite the acquisition of Alisson, Roma are keen to keep hold of Szczesny. They balked at Arsenal’s supposed demands for a permanent deal, but Head Coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed to Sky Sports Italia he would be keen to keep last season’s number one at the Stadio Olimpico.

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The polarizing goalkeeper is highly unlikely to be a regular starter should he return to the Emirates next season. But Arsene Wenger may need cover for Petr Cech as David Ospina is keen to move on after not starting a Premier League game last season until March.

At 26 years of age, Szczesny will be reluctant to spend his prime years as a backup. But with that said, if he is willing to sit and learn behind the record-breaking goalkeeper that is Petr Cech, it could be hugely beneficial for his career.

In the past Szczesny has bemoaned the time he wasted sitting on the bench at Arsenal and recently claimed he learned more under Luciano Spalletti in four months at Roma than in ten years at the Gunners.

(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /

Szczesny will make a decision on his future soon, now that Poland’s participation in EURO 2016 has ended. Does he compete for a starting position at Roma or sit on the bench at Arsenal? I see him as Arsenal’s long-term Goalkeeper and hope to one day see him wear the number one shirt again.

He certainly is maverick and very contentious but he is undoubtedly a fantastic goalkeeper. He possesses fantastic reflexes and athleticism and a unique ability to distribute the ball from the back.

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I certainly hope we haven’t seen the last of Wojciech Szczesny at the Emirates Stadium.

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