Arsenal and Roma have agreed a deal to loan Wojciech Szczesny for a second successive campaign.
The news comes from the official Arsenal website, after the Poland international was spotted arriving at Fiuminci Airport in Rome on Thursday morning ahead of a season-long loan move.
We picked this story up just over a week ago, and there was never any question over where the 26-year-old would be spending the next few months after he stated moving to the Serie A side was like “winning the lottery”.
Complications soon came up in the deal though, with Arsenal insisting that Roma pay 100% of his £46,000 a week wages, something that they have now agreed to do.
After touching down in Italy, the Gunners academy graduate told reporters he was “fine and happy to be back” as he will now become Roma’s number one goalkeeper for the year.
Early reports suggested that there would be an option-to-buy clause in the contract, but it appears Arsenal are not willing to wave goodbye to their man with the gloves just yet.
Sky Italy reported that the deal would instead just be a loan agreement with Arsenal keen to welcome Szczesny back next season after picking up some heavily needed first team action.
His last game in an Arsenal jersey came during the 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup final, which now seems ages away given his role at the Serie A side.
Szczesny wrapped up 42 appearances all season and went on to reveal he had learnt more at Rome than he had done in his whole time with the Gunners… Ouch!
Knowing him, those comments weren’t meant in spite and he’ll relish the chance to come back and compete for a place once first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech is out of the running.
Wenger has invested a lot of time in him and it’s hard to see him selling the Pole permanently, despite some off the pitch attitude concerns.
In the meantime, Arsenal fans will want Szczesny to do well at during his time out in Italy, after all he could still be the future between our sticks at the Emirates!
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