Arsenal: Rui Patricio Rubs Salt In Wojciech Szczesny’s Wounds

Arsenal are being linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Rui Patricio. Any signing, though, simply rubs salt in Wojciech Szczesny’s wounds.

In the last two summer transfer windows, Arsene Wenger has had the same, significant decision to make regarding his goalkeepers. After signing Petr Cech from Chelsea in 2015 to provide some experience and reliability to the role that has hindered Arsenal’s success in recent history, Wenger was left with two more than capable backups.

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Both Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina have held the starting role for the Gunners at different times in their careers. However, with the addition of Cech, it was clear that they would be battling for a reserve role and little more, a role that both perhaps have the ability to outperform.

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That meant, however, that one would have to leave the club as a third-string position is well below either of their capabilities. Wenger decided that it would be Szczesny who would have to leave the club, sending him out on loan; Roma his destination. However, during his second year in Italy, Szczesny has been mightily impressive, while Ospina, playing second fiddle to Cech, has continued to show the same mental shortcomings that drove Wenger to sign Cech initially.

As Szczesny prepares to return this summer, Wenger will again have a decision to make regarding the roles and the futures of his goalkeepers. Given his success at Roma, many have anticipated that Szczesny will be reinstated as the backup with a chance to challenge Cech for the starting role; with Ospina leaving in his stead.

That is why recent reports suggesting that Arsenal are interested in bringing Sporting Lisbon’s Rui Patricio to the club are somewhat confusing. While the 29-year-old is a more than capable keeper with excellent shot stopping skills and quick reflexes, an improvement at the position is far from what the squad needs.

Szczesny has shown he has the ability to perform at a consistently high level throughout a whole season, he is maturing quickly, addressing the mental mistakes that were a key weakness in his game early in his Arsenal career, and now, at just 26, still has a bright and prosperous prime ahead of him.

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It is no surprise that Szczesny has been reported to be unhappy with the spurning that he suffered from Wenger and, with just a year remaining on his current deal from the end of the season, it could be difficult to convince him to stay. Reports that Arsenal are interested in Patricio will only rub salt into those words.