Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has admitted that he welcomes competition from Lukasz Fabianski and Emiliano Viviano, despite losing his place in the first-team last year due to being mentally fatigued.
Nearing the conclusion of last season, Szczesny was dropped by Arsene Wenger after the manager claimed he was mentally unfit and this gave second-string goalkeeper Fabianski a chance to shine, and if he didn’t pick up an injury, he would have most likely finished the season as the number-one shot-stopper.
Szczesny doesn’t just have Fabianski to worry about now after Arsenal signed Viviano on loan for the season from Italian side Palermo, but the Pole has admitted that he does not fear losing his place.
“The most important thing is the manager’s faith in me. I’m not going to him and asking whether a new goalkeeper will be bought,” Szczesny told Gazeta Wyborcza.
“I train very hard, pay him back with my performances. I’m not scared of competition.”
The current number-one was then asked about when he was dropped last year and whether he was surprised about his exclusion.
“No (I wasn’t surprised). But only because he told me eight days before that second game with Bayern. I took this decision like a man.
“I had a hard time at Arsenal in March. I lost my place and had to fight my way back. I was given my chance, luck was on my side and Lukasz has got injured as well.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
