Arsenal debate – Does Szczesny need to man up? by JO
Over the past few weeks Arsenal fans have been treated to a positive change of fortunes with great results in wins against Hull City, Stoke and latest victims Manchester City. My guess is all Arsenal fans have enjoyed this and we can only hope that it continues for as long as we keep moving up the table.
Part of the reasons for our positive team display has been the team selection, especially in the Goalkeeping and Midfield areas where the Manager has made the bold move to replace Szczesny with Ospina and resisting the temptation to field fit again Ozil and keep faith with the Magician (Carzola). Another change in defensive midfield was forced onto him by injuries to first team players like Ramsey, Flamini, Arteta and Wilshere.
However it’s ironical that as soon as some Arsenal players regarded as first team members don’t play a couple of good games or so, then rumours of their discontent and displeasure start to crop up. The Daily Mail is reporting that Polish goalkeeping legend Jan Tomaszewski thinks Wojciech Szczesny should look for a loan move away from Arsenal as he won’t play another game this season. “It seems to me that Adam Nawalka (Poland’s national team coach) should go to London to find [him] a way out of the situation, because from what I know, Wojciech will not play again until the end of the competition,” Tomaszewski told Sportowefakty. “Wojciech should look for a loan. He won’t lose anything, he will continue to be bound by a contract with Arsenal, but will he be able to count on regular game time.”
I can imagine that this is a joke taken too far! So he thinks that Arsenal performance should suffer as long as Szczesny has game time? And who has told him that the player will not play again till end of the season? Is Arsenal not entitled to have 3 decent keepers? Or is it a crime for the club to field its best players (based on performance) which gives it a good chance of winning?
I don’t want to be seen to support the manager foolishly, but I am not happy with a player who does not show total commitment and does not appreciate the chance when they come. The gloves have been with Szczesny since the season began, while Ospina was on and off with injuries and Martinez was deputizing. This period saw the club drop a lot of points in games which were winnable. Most fans wished that the manager would replace the keeper whom they felt was undergoing a patchy run of form. Yet when the gods heard our cries and the manager did just that then the negative rumors started.
Why can’t Wojciech learn his mistakes and fight for the team through his performances like Cazorla did at Man City, instead of dragging it down by wanting to play even when everybody sees that he is struggling?
Every player must train and be ready when called upon to do a better job just like Cazorla, Ospina, Bellerin and Coq have done. This is the surest way to ensure maximum game time for themselves and success for the club….
By Joseph