Now depending on which way your balls are hanging this morning, Wojciech Szczesny is either penning a long-term deal with Barcelona or he’s just ousted Robin van Persie in a captaincy coup which has left the Dutchman crying and bloodied in the showers at London Colney.
It just wouldn’t be an international break without Arsenal’s players flying off around the world, talking to their respective local media, making headlines in their homeland, having their comments run through Google Translate by Fleet Street and then being greeted on their return by fans frothing at the mouth at headlines twisted beyond recognition.
I sometimes feel for the players, I really do. In this case Szczesny hasn’t even made it to Warsaw, but despite pulling out of Poland’s squad with a back injury, has done a brief interview with The Polska Times.
In fairness to the 20-year-old he comes across very well in the interview. He speaks about how he has grown up at Arsenal since arriving as a ‘kid’ and how if he hadn’t made the move to England at such a young age there is no way he’d be playing at the level he is now.
He also speaks about how he’d make exactly the same decision to join the Gunners if he was given a second chance to mark out his career path, while stressing that he and Lukasz Fabianski would never wish harm on each other despite their rivalry for the number one jersey.
The Polska Times chooses to lead the article with Szczesny’s declaration of interest in the Arsenal captaincy.
“I want to be captain of the Arsenal team. I feel that I am able to cope with this responsibility. I’ve always wanted to be captain and if I am ever handed such an honour, I’d wear the armband with great pleasure.”
Fine words from Szczesny in my opinion, and sentiments which cannot fail to impress Arsenal fans eager for leaders to emerge from the current squad.
Of course that wasn’t a juicy enough angle for some publications in England.
Here’s the bit which has ruffled feathers and caused controversy. Asked if Arsenal is his second home, Szczesny responds: “Yes. I have friends in London, friends, not just in the senior squad, but also the youth team.”
He then continued, “I cannot imagine a situation where I leave the club for money. I can’t declare that I will spend my entire career here, but if I leave I will have a very important reason or I will go to Barcelona.”
Now how many of those publications, which didn’t go with the captaincy story, decided to opt for the similarly positive, “Szczesny: Arsenal is my second home.” Answer = none.
How many chose to focus on a throwaway comment without putting his answer into context? Answer = Hundreds. Literally (as Jamie Redknapp might say). For all we know young Wojciech may have been pissing himself laughing when he mentioned Barcelona, it’s pretty obvious judging by his once prolific Tweeting history that the Pole has a pretty sardonic sense of humour.
Anyway, for those under the assumption that Barcelona are ready to whisk Szczesny away to the Nou Camp, consider this. The Catalans have had the same goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, since 2002. He’s only now reaching the prime of his career at the age of 29 and probably has another ten years of top level football left in him. Are they looking for a new number one? No.
Would Szczesny leave Arsenal to go and sit on the bench? I would also argue no. But make your own mind up.
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UPDATE
Wojciech has taken to Twitter to talk about the way things have been spun in the media.
“I got annoyed with a few things about myself in the media recently so I’m gonna set the record straight.
“1) I never said I deserve an Arsenal armband. I said that I would love to one day take a responsibilty of being an Arsenal skipper.
“RVP is doing a great job as a skipper and he fully deserves an armband.
“2) I AM injured and had to be pulled out of Polish national team. Hope to recover asap. (Thats for Polish media)
“3) Please continue the “Szczesny to Barcelona” rumours. Makes me laugh everytime I read it 🙂 haha”
Well there we go…
perhaps he was joking cause so many player seem to be linked with Barca recently?
I thought it was a joke too.
A sarcastic comment which relies on verbal comic timing: “I will have a very important reason… or I will go to Barcelona”.
When I read that, I totally imagined his face with that side-ways smirk, the one which he had after he flattened Gareth Bale last year. He was being sarcastic.
Love this guy. His twitter update was classic.
SZCZESNY IS THE SZCZIT! I love this guy!
Szczense and Szczensibility
comfortably my favourite Arseblog headline of all time
That’s it , it’s all over, sell him now before it’s a long drawn out saga 😉
I think from his comments about money it’s quite clear that for the moment he’s certainly here. Comments about money and Barca even seem like little jokes about his former team mates. Gotta love him.
Translation from Polish is not that Easy……you can always get weird results.
I think he has Barca DNA to be fair…. 😉
Pretty sure he has Legia DNA.
Nah, we’ve learned since Cesc. We had the DNA of all of our players surgically replaced with Gunnersaurus DNA.
I am tempted to want him to tout himself to Barca so hard and then say no, as many times as it takes to really piss Barca off. teasing them to the point of frustration where they put all their riches into trying to seal his signature, throwing themselves like a desperate lover at his feet and he still says no. They leave, too embarrassed to ever mention his name again, a scar upon their honour from which they never truly recover . . . I know that will never happen . . . but, ‘ you gotta have a… Read more »
I’d like to see him getting together with Wenger to wind them up getting him to the point of signing a contract with Barca but signing it “Fuck off you dirty cheating cunts” and then holding it up for a photograph and then leaving with that wonderful cheeky look he does when he’s just fucked someone up, like Gareth Bale. That would be the best.
“Player is happy where he is” is no headline at all, but if a player even mentions another club’s name then they can twist and contort that into something sensational which is what they choose to do.
As was said, Barca have no need of a new No 1, and Szczesny isn’t one to sit on the bench. Remember as an upstart 20 yr old he was making noises about leaving if he didn’t get first team football. He’s happy, the fans love him, he’s going nowhere.
Who else thinks the Szcz is just taking a piss at barca for their relentless efforts at prying away our best players?
Its the interlull afterall, thers nothing to look forward too1
The media are probably as bored as we are and need to entertain themselves!
I myself can’t declare that I will spend my entire life supporting Arsenal, but if I stop I will have a very important reason or I start supporting Barcelona.”
I wish players would make up their minds, one minute they want to end their careers at Arsenal and wouldn’t leave for anything, the next minute Szczesny is saying he would like to play for Barca & also he wants to be captain. He can’t have it both ways. I know he’s a good goallie & has made some terrific saves, but Wenger has to look at the big picture and instil confidence in the team & not say we don’t have a snowballs chance in hell of ending our drought of goals.
He did mention about Barcelona. You can check Younggunblog where it was properly translated by our Polish Gooner. Seriously, do we have to go thru another Cesc Saga? Keep your answer save with you.
Szczesny is known in Poland for his sense of humour and winding up reporters. From what I read, if anything, he pledged his future to Arsenal. He said he would like to become Arsenal captain as he feels he would do a good job. He also said he would never leave for money and if he would EVER leave in future it would have to be for a good reason. He commented on Barcelona rumours earlier and it’s an obvious joke for him.
Funny Kid……….love his confidence….. He has let through 2.28 goals per game this season. The top 4 keepers have let through 0.67 goals per game. The League average for keepers is 1.37 goals per game….. Over the past 5 years,to claim 4th spot in the league,the average number of goals conceded in the season needs to be less than 37……. so here’s your mission young fella…… For us to qualify for a Champion’s League place your mission is to let through less than .083 goals per game for the rest of the season. You have the confidence to do it…..… Read more »
You realize there’s more to goals conceded than just the goalkeeper no?
Yes Mr M C S,
I am well aware of the role the defenders play in those goal stats, but the keeper must take much of the blame…. just keep your eye on the ball sunshine.
bizircus
October 5, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I would like to be part of your gang.
Sarcasim or Jovial Kindness no …. what I’m I saying is please Call Me
This bizircus lad is proper crackers
The Barca goalie is young enough that he’ll be there for a few years yet… and don’t think Chezzers would go to sit on the bench. However, when the day came, could you blame him if he did go to them? Fortunately this would be a good few years away yet.
Another non story.
[…] to you, future-Arsenal-captain wannabe, Szceszny. For those unclear on what i mean, have a read here. Should RVP ever leave, and Szcezsny has played at least 400 first team games, I wouldn’t […]
I thought it quite funny. The mans a card lol
quote from the wojciech’s twitter page:
“Please continue the “Szczesny to Barcelona” rumours. Makes me laugh everytime I read it 🙂 haha”
I have been wondering do barca even need a GK ?
They should bid for Vander-vaart as their flying GK……. 😀 😀
GK – Groin Kicker ?
from a Barca fax to Harry Twitch:
“Rafa van der Vaart has never played for us and lacks Barca DNA. However, he has Cuntish DNA which naturally means that he wants to be here with us.
To force him to remain at your Cock club instead of letting him come to our Cunty club is a crime against humanity and proves that Arsenal fans have always been right about you.”
hes a c@nt!
I know this one. We say “Who is?” and you say “Nasri” right?
Szczesny should lodge more twitter comments, because they always cause a steer and are usually thought provoking and funny. I love this boy
SZCZ is legendary. Top notch bloke.