Wojciech Szczesny says he’ll make a decision on his long-term future after Euro 2016 as he weighs up signing a permanent deal with AS Roma.
Earlier this week the Italian side’s sporting director, Walter Sabatini, admitted they’d like to keep the Pole although he underlined that a deal with Arsenal could prove ‘difficult’.
Confirming he’ll wait to see what Arsene Wenger has to say at the end of the season, Szczesny told homeland website przegladsportowy.pl:
“My future will be decided after the European Championship. I love Arsenal, but I’m happy at Roma.
“I know that Roma want me, but I don’t see why Arsenal would not want me also. [Roma coach Rudi] Garcia believes in me and so too do my teammates and the fans.
“Coming to Rome was the best choice. It’s best being a protagonist for the runners-up in Italy than sitting on the bench in England.
“Even [Arsene] Wenger thought it was the best thing for me.”
Szczesny has been told by Wenger that he has a future at the club, however, much will depend on the future of David Ospina who may well look for regular football himself come the summer. Further down the ranks the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Matt Macey, Deyan Iliev and Ryan Huddart wait for a shot at the first team.
“I love Arsenal”
*I love Arsenal* – Millions of people love the Arsenal.. if only those words were the only credentials you needed to get a game at The Emirates… I’ve always liked Wojech, but he doesn’t have his head screwed on properly, and that’s really cost him on and off the pitch. From sparking browns in the showers after games, to horrific showings of Flapianksi like concentration on the pitch. Raw talent isn’t enough to play in top flight football these days – which Wojech has, but its his mental game that’s also so important especially in his position. That’s what he… Read more »
Even Cech had his horror showing in one game with us this season. Cech is an improvement but Szczesny is a very good keeper.
I do like Wojech, I like the fact that he loves Arsenal but I do think its maybe too late for him. I think that fag in the shower incident last season really burnt a bridge with Arsene. It really showed a distinct lack of disrespect towards the whole dressing room.
Europe is littered with promising young footballers who miss the Arsenal, Szczes, dear boy. So best start producing the kind of performances that will give Cech sleepless nights, then!
Would be good to have a brilliant, confident, balanced and passionate Gooner back – but it’s brilliant, confident and balanced bits that are probably going to swing it…
I would love to see him back, rate him more than Ospina and would be ready made to take over from Cech. But in fairness, staying and starting at Roma might be the best thing for him rather than sitting on our bench and waiting it out. Either way, good luck to him!
I like Szczesny, but it’s hard to see him ever being as reliable and influential as Cech has been so far this season. I’d still rather have Szczesny as our first choice than Ospina, but I expect Cech’s eventual successor to be neither of them. Possibly Martinez, but that’s hard to say at this point.
I’m not too fussed about which out of those three sits on our bench next season though, so they can do whatever they want in the summer as far as I’m concerned.
we got a world class keeper in Cech now so if Szcz wants to be part of Arsenal he will need to fight for his place!
Great ability. Poor reliability. If and when he proves he’s matured I’d be happy to have him back but not before.
I don’t think I’ll ever forgive him for letting Ashley Young score 2 worldies against us. I’ve never looked at him the same ever since.
Lol
If I were the one who made the decision, it’s a non-breaker. Cech will be hopefully with us at least five years with that sky-high level or maybe even more. Why won’t we invest our trust elsewhere for future? (i.e. Damien Martinez)
I have nothing against Szcz, but we have seen the both the good and bad of him. Not for one or two season, but five. Just ask our back four, how confident they would be with the choice of Cech and Szczesny behind them?
I think he’s better than Ospina, he had a poor first half of the last season but then again our defence in the first half was a pack of cards.
It only stabilized in the second half. That appeared to have given ospina the edge over scz.. I hope he’s learnt his lesson and I’d take him back into arsenal than see him at Roma.
We’d have the best 2nd choice keeper in the league by some way. If he can be understudy for the next 3 years he could definitely be at his prime by the time Cech passes his peak.
I honestly think Martinez is at the same level currently, and will be better than Szczesny. The amount of errors Szczesny makes is seriously ridiculous.
We don’t know how everything will work out.
Ospina may decide to leave for more playing time in which case Arsene may decide to retain Szsc. Or Martinez may develop into a potential number two and both may be released.
One thing is for sure, after many years in the doldrums, Wenger has now solved the keeper issue and it is properly managed.
I want Jack Butland even though he’s a stoke player, he would be a great apprentice to Cech.
Buttland? Let’s not go there.
Buttland at Arse-nal makes perfect sense.
To tell you the truth, Arseblog, I am disappointed there wasn’t a photo shopped image of the crazy pole on the movie poster. So much potential and I expect more from you.
In all reality, though, love what you do and appreciate that I can come to one spot for all things Arsenal and get some good humor along with it.
One more season on loan at Roma won’t be so bad and he can come back ready to be the number one. He is a good keeper but a crazy keeper as well
Macey and Martinez will benefit most from working with Cech than someone more established like Szcz or Ospina can. Shame we couldn’t also poach Lollichon from Chelsea in the deal, as he’d have greatly improved the younger keepers we have coming through… perhaps this summer we can get him though.
If Szczesny, like Courtois, can prove he can challenge Cech by excelling on loan at a top club challenging for titles (which Roma are) then I’m all for bringing him back. Like Courtois, I think it will take at least another season away from his parent club though.
I don’t think I’ll ever forgive him
for letting Ashley Young score
2 worldies against us. I’ve
never looked at him the same
ever since.
He is a good lad, he loves arsenal and all that but in the end, in my point of view and watching him sometimes playing at Roma, he doesn’t look like the worldclass goalkeeper we were hoping to. He’s a good one but I think he’s stuck in that level… I still think Ospina is a better keeper. The best thing for both parts is that he stays in italy.
He should stay in Italy. Smoking is much more socially accepted there than in England.