Arsenal goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, has said that joining Roma is “like winning the lottery” following his recent loan move.
The 25-year-old made the switch to the Serie A club after falling down the goalkeeper pecking order, following Arsenal’s £11million capture of Petr Cech.
And Gunners fans joined together to wish the best of luck to the Polish international, who will spend the 2015/16 campaign playing as the first-choice man between the sticks.
But following his move, Szczesny has reassured the Arsenal community that the club remained in his long-term plans, and he is determined to have a future at the Emirates.
Szczesny spoke in his first exclusive full-length interview since joining Roma, and stated that a move to the club was one he didn’t need to think twice about;
If Arsenal get an offer from another Premier League club, we probably wouldn’t consider this.
But this is AS Roma – one of the biggest clubs in the world. They play in the Champions League and will fight for the title in Serie A.
Being a goalkeeper with no chance of playing and then getting an offer from such a big club is like winning lottery.
Doubts were initially cast over the move to Roma, and media speculation drew in on the fact Szczesny felt rejected by his boyhood team.
And after making his debut with the Italian giants earlier this week, he was quick to respond to those claims suggesting there was bad tensions as he switch England for Italy.
I had an honest talk with boss. He said, that another goalkeeper will start new season, so playing in other club would be the best option for me.
I trust Mr Wenger like no one else, so if he says, that the best way to get my place in squad back would be go on loan, it means he’s right. I’m lucky that the boss was honest with me.
Petr Cech is now expected to begin the season with Arsenal, after making an impressive start to his career at the club, winning the Community Shield against his former club, and picking up a clean sheet in the process.
David Ospina also remains at the club after picking up the status of first-choice goalkeeper towards the end of the 2014/15 campaign.
However, despite the Colombian’s best efforts there is little he can do to keep a Premier League legend like Cech out of the running order, something Ospina can accept.
After being linked with moves to Everton and Southampton, Ospina assured that he wants to develop at the club he joined for £4million at the beginning of last season.
That leaves Szczesny with a mountain to climb when he returns for the 2016/17 season, but according to the two-time FA Cup winner, it’s a challenge he’s willing to take on,
I want to come back to Arsenal and Wenger wants me back. I’m going to be back as a better, stronger and more experienced goalkeeper.
I talked to Adam Nawalka, (Poland Manager) He was happy with my choice, but he joked, that I gave him a big selection headache before next matches, because he will have two goalkeepers in Premier League (Boruc and Fabianski) and one in Serie A.
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