There is an interesting report from the Guardian last night that sounds like the reporter has been speaking directly to Wojciech Szczesny for his thoughts on whether he will be dropped by Arsenal next week in favour of David Ospina.
Here are a few quotes from the report to illustrate whyI think it has come straight from the Polish keeper:
Wojciech Szczesny expects to regain his place in the Arsenal team to face Stoke City on Sunday, despite the furore over him smoking a cigarette in the shower area of the dressing room after his most recent appearance…
……Szczesny has been fined by the club but there is no question of him being internally suspended…..
…… Szczesny, who did not play in Sunday’s 2-0 home win over Hull City in the FA Cup, believes that the incident will not influence the manager’s selection. The pair have always enjoyed a strong relationship…
……Wenger knows that Stoke will bring a direct and physical style and he must decide whether Ospina is the man to repel it. Southampton apart, Szczesny has been generally reliable this season.
So, does that sound like a conversation with Szczesny? Is Wenger likely to reinstate him so quickly despite his errors and the smoking incident, because they have a “strong relationship”?
It is certainly true that Wenger always seemed to favour Szczesny over Fabianski in previous years, no matter how well the older keeper played so I can see why he thinks Le Prof will give him another chance next week.
But I guess the crux of the matter depends on whether Wenger really does believe that Wojciech has been “generally reliable” other than the crazy antics against Southampton……