Arsenal Mismanaged Keeper Situation When Petr Cech Joined

Arsenal had a great chance to give Wojciech Szczesny a fantastic opportunity when Petr Cech arrived, but they blew it. It’s time to make amends. 

When Arsenal went out and signed Petr Cech, it was a massive statement. The Gunners had not had a world class keeper since David Seaman – or Jens Lehmann, depending on your opinion of world class keepers. Between Seaman and Cech there has been an array of keepers spanning from Manuel Almunia to Wojciech Szczesny.

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Petr Cech brought the steady calm at the back that no keeper since Seaman has been able to do. The confidence that he inspires is finally setting in at Arsenal. No longer do they have to wonder which Pole will show up.

When Cech was bought, it changed everything. David Ospina and Szczesny no longer had a competition. The Pole was loaned to Roma and Ospina figures to be sold before too much longer. Reports have indicated that there is a clause in Szczesny’s loan to make the mover permanent, but according to the Mirror, Arsenal want their enigmatic keeper back. 

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When Cech first arrived, the consensus was that he would be the perfect keeper for Szcesny to learn under. The Pole had so much ability and so much talent, it was just his decision-making that was questionable. It just so happens that decision making is what makes Petr Cech so special. If he could have imparted his wisdom on Szczesny, Arsenal would have a Cech-like keeper long after Cech departs.

Arsenal instead opted to loan Szczesny to Roma and hold onto David Ospina. This was a bad decision. Ospina quickly and predictably fell out of favor and now he wants to be sold. Meanwhile, Szczesny wants to come back and Arsenal want him back. What would have been the more logical course of action would have been to sell Ospina while he was at the top of his value and retain Szczesny to learn under Cech. The only thing Szczesny gained from going to Roma was first-team play, which he had already had plenty of at Arsenal. Ospina gained nothing this year except a dent in his confidence.

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Ospina’s situation is unfortunate but the best thing for him would be to move on and find a team he can start for. That should have been the first course of action when Cech arrived.

Wojciech Szczesny still has time to learn and inherit the mantle from Cech. Arsenal must welcome the Pole back over the summer and allow him to fulfill his destiny, whatever that may be.

To Szczesny’s credit, he has looked pretty stout at Roma this year. His saves-per-goal is up from the nasty 1.40 it was last year to a steady 2.27. In four less appearances, he has already matched his clean sheet total from last year as well (stats via Squawka.com).

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His inconsistency still rears its ugly head because of his decision making but if nothing else, this year taught him that he still wants to make it at Arsenal. He is going to be fully committed when he does return and he will have a fantastic mentor. There is still time for Wojciech Szczesny to become an Arsenal great. He laid the groundwork already, now he just has to put the finishing touches on.