Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny shows how diluted fans can be
By Josh Sippie
![MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Arsenal goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton in discussion with Wojciech Szczesny of Arsenal prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on January 18, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Arsenal goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton in discussion with Wojciech Szczesny of Arsenal prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on January 18, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/15f11d4c15b154a16e7bb3d45b4fa7cec8c8c451cb5ab31f2006ea39cf20442c.jpg)
Most Arsenal fans are not known for being deep thinkers, and if you look at what happened to Wojciech Szczesn, you’ll see no better indication of this.
I feel extra inclined to keep taking digs at “those” Arsenal fans lately. And by “those,” I mean the AFTV-loving, Granit Xhaka-hating group that thinks they know how to run a football team when they probably don’t even know how to cook themselves dinner.
These are the people that give all Gooners a bad name. And to be fair, it is a small minority, but that festering wound can spread into better-thinking fans. It isn’t just “those” fans who criticize Xhaka. And it wasn’t just “those” fans who shooed Wojciech Szczesny out of the club, dubbing him not good enough.
I greatly, greatly miss the Polish keeper. Bernd Leno is the first real replacement. But the worst part about how Szczesny was driven out of the club, the worst part about him being so unappreciated, is that no one will learn their lesson.
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Szczesny is now regarded as one of the best keepers in the world. He was the understudy for the best keeper in the world, which should have been testament enough, but when the time came to assume the role, it was seamless.
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That’s right, the guy who fans wanted out of the Emirates for not being good enough helped a club make the transition from the best keeper in the world to… him. Meaning that you could now make an argument that he is the best keeper in the world… but wasn’t good enough for the Gunners.
I feel like this is the shining example of how volatile fans can be. And to be fair, it isn’t just some Arsenal fans that are guilty, but in light of how awful some fans have been lately, it’s a reminder that they rarely know what they’re talking about. Now many are doubting Bernd Leno because he can’t keep a clean sheet. Just like how Szczesny couldn’t.
Szczesny is about to lock in to a new contract at Juventus, and I couldn’t be happier for him. He could have been the long-term Arsenal No. 1, but unfortunately, he just wasn’t good enough.
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Oh well, at least there’s hope that Leno can last long enough to get a quality defense in front of him. Then he’ll be safe from criticism when the clean sheets come rolling in. For awhile anyways.