Goalkeeping hero Lukasz Fabianski has admitted he had to use intuition to stop two of Wigan’s penalties yesterday as his YouTube research on the takers brought him no results.
The Pole used the Internet beforehand to see if he could spot patterns in the potential penalty takers, but there was nothing to be found about Gary Caldwell or Jack Collison.
Instead, he had to rely on the force to make the saves, and thankfully he didn’t turn to the dark side to help put the Gunners into the cup final.
“I was surprised that Gomez didn’t step up as the first one. Then I saw Caldwell and Collison taking the penalties, so I was just guessing.
“I did look at YouTube and things like that, but I didn’t see anything of Collison or Caldwell on there,” he said.
The Pole’s heroics were backed up by Mikel Arteta, Kim Kallstrom, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla tucking away their spot kicks, but Fabianski was keen to dedicate the win to the fans.
“I think this is for the fans,” he said. “They have been waiting a long time and they show up in every away game, win or lose they always follow.
“It was a great atmosphere today as well so it’s great to do it for them.”
Well done, Luk
You’ve earned your place in the final.
Is that you Arsene?
he’s earned his place as first choice ahead of mr selfie for the rest of the season imho. big mistake to let him leave.
I wonder if he’ll play Szcezney (sp? is anyone really ever sure?) in the final so they both get medals. Although that would be hard on Lukas
Welldone Fabs. A different player we are letting go to the one who we signed. Hopefuly he will leave with a medal. Just a quick comment on Arsenal’s celebrations on making it to a FINAL. The people thst are deriding us for beating Man City and the current holders, sorry a championship side and celebrating, are probably the same people who thought it acceptable when teams in midweek were celebrating Just as hard for reaching a SEMI-FINAL. And the case about winning on penalites… Tell that to Utd,Liverpool when they won the Champs league the same way but couldn’t give… Read more »
Great job Lukasz. See u in the final with the trophy.
And let it be known, from this day forth, the name flappyhandski shall never be mentioned again! You shall be sir Lukasz Fabianski.
I thought it was Sir Fabuhandski now?
Welldone Fabs. A different player we are letting go to the one who we signed. Hopefuly he will leave with a medal. Just a quick comment on Arsenal’s celebrations on making it to a FINAL. The people thst are deriding us for beating Man City and the current holders, sorry a championship side and celebrating, are probably the same people who thought it acceptable when teams in midweek were celebrating Just as hard for reaching a SEMI-FINAL. And the case about winning on penalites… Tell that to Utd,Liverpool when they won the Champs league the same way but couldn’t give… Read more »
Damn there’s an echo in here!
I really hope he does not leave in the summer.. Must be hard being a No. 2 keeper but he always steps up, played well against Bayern. He was finger tips away from saving Gomez’s penalty, then saved two in the shoot out. You would be hard pushed to find a better No2 keeper in the Prem.
Guess he’d be a an upgrade as No1 for most premier league sides, great keeper, outstanding reflexes..
It’s just that in my opinion he lack’s some of Szczesny’s presence in the box and that would always make it hard to get past him..
…and we’ll be with u all the way every other day. Now sign that new deal and be among the greats at Arsenal.
COYG!!!
No more flappy hands.
So does this mesn Szczesny is out of the final?
Yes
Definitely earned his right to be in the squad for the final. He’s been a true professional throughout his time at Arsenal, and if he does leave I genuinely hope he gets the move he deserves.
Well played Lukasz! I was weirdly calm before the penalties, but I didn’t expect such a flying start from our Pole on Goal! Roll on to Tuesday I say.
Stay!
Great pro. Could also see a 442 in the final with Ramsey playing a Parlour style RF, and Ox playing a pires style LF. Leaving flam and Arteta to keep it tight in the midfield.
Fabianski has been very impressive this season. He stopped one against Bayern in the second leg. He almost stopped Gomez’s kick in regulation time and he did well to stop 2 during the shoot out.
it will be tomfoolery to drop him in the finals.
he’s been mentally strong and the momentum lies in his favour.
Play the final he will, mmh. And the cup win Arsenal must. When 9 years without a trophy you be, you look this good not mmh.
fabianski is an amazing guy proffessionally and a top class keeper, he deserves the jearsey
Song for Lukasz. Just change the word ‘love’ for ‘goalkeeping’. He says in a manly ‘Home Improvement’ style (Ugh-Oogh Aggh).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIAnkrPgTvY
I think he’s done enough to get a place vs West Ham to be fair. Chez hasn’t been great lately, so we may be able to convince him to stay.
Best number two in the league. Turnbull, Friedel and Pantymillions, or whatever his name is, ain’t got jack on him.
We know Wenger won’t drop Szcz but having this good a keeper breathing down your neck can’t do anything but good for the taller of the two poles.
Fabianski built my house, built my house, built my house, Fabianski built my house, HE – IS – POLISH!
YouTube!??? Why does the multi million pound juggernaut that is Arsenal not have access to simple penalty data like that!? Have those guys really never taken a penalty?
Fair play Fabs though… Definitely my man of the match!!!
Exactly! Incredibly unprofessional by Arsenal considering it’s 2014 by now and there are incredible amounts of data out there that really should be used by teams such as Arsenal. Having a player prepare this kind of analysis himself using Youtube… unbelievably wrong on so many accounts…
Sign Da Ting!!!
I think we should give him a chance up front for the remaining premier league games
Fab did a great job yesterday. I’m gutted he’s leaving as I think he’s the better first choice option. I’ve thought this for a while now. He’s matured better than sczcesny and more focused. Also more respectful. It’s a shame he wasn’t given more game time.
I thinks Fab is a better keeper, he has grown in stature through the cup games. He should be 1st choice next season but hey.
All 4 of our penalties were very well taken despite their keeper’s best efforts to put them off. Fab again showed what a great keeper he is and will be a great No1 for whatever team he goes to.
Not sure what we’re gonna go against West Ham on Tuesday. Yes, Tuesday FFS! They must be knackered. If you watch the footage on this very site of Mert going into the dressing room post match, you see a very, very, very knackered man. He can barely stand up. Ramsey could be a big risk as he’s just come back. I think Wenger will rotate where possible, but he doesn’t have much room for manouvre. I think we could see: ———Chez Jenks Kos (50/50 for Tuesday) Verm Gibbs —Kallstrom Arteta –Ox Rosicky Cazorla ———Giroud If needs be we can use… Read more »
I was in the stands yesterday and I was utterly knackered by the time I got on the train. That game was an emotional rollercoaster and when the adrenaline of penalties wore off I was shattered. Can’t imagine how the players felt, especially Rambo just back from injury so kudos to them for still having the concentration to bury those penalties.
He did his work well.Nice job lukasz
I remember when lukasz made alot of mistakes, but he never gave up, worked hard and now look how good he has become. So proud of him, please stay!
Were are the other big teams in the fa cup ? We’ve already beat them ! Well done lads we so need a trophy !
Rotation of players is much needed, matches shd be given to players on merit not by history or name.so fab is avery good player who shd have started most of the league matches especially after sczceny’s poor displays after city and liverpool humiliation
Fabyhandski!!!!
I had a feeling he would save a few pens.
Off topic (sorry)Watching Martinez talk at a touch screen pre-game (Liverpool vs City).
He says the ‘diamond’ Liverpool are playing will play into City’s hands. Too much space between the lines or something.
Let’s see if he really is a tactical genius.
Obviously, he isn’t.
Great job Fab!
Respect to fabianski great saves and also to Bob Wilson and his battle. Message to cancer: you will never beat Sir Bob!
For the first time in many years, finally we can say that Arsenal have a great back up for another great goalkeeper… it will be sad to see Fabianski go at the end of the season, I always liked him but he was so unlucky with injuries when he was finally reaching the peak of his level. Now to the final!
Please stay fella. I think you deserve no 01 spot for a while!
For those of you interested in game theory, pretty cool study of penalty kicks: http://www.palacios-huerta.com/docs/professionals.pdf
It worked and we’re in the FINAL 😀 So who cares about this, but I’m wondering a little bit why he has to relay youtube to find videos? If you play such an enormously important game and know it could go to penalties surely someone of the stuff should be preparing a video for him?
guy is a hero and i don’t Szcz would have been able to do those saves
shouldn’t it have been the manager’s work as well as that of the scouting team to check out the potential penalty takers preferences just asking
Sorry to be “that guy”, but shouldn’t we have a more formal research process than “Let the goalie figure it out himself”?
Seems of a piece with our policy of never preparing for a specific team, which seems totally misguided, if true.