Wojciech Szczęsny is on stand by to replace compatriot Łukasz Fabiański at Old Trafford tonight, with the 25-year-old poised to have a late fitness test on a trouble some groin problem.
Arsène Wenger suggested Fabiański would be a doubt for the clash with Manchester United last week, highlighting a groin problem in his press conference after the Partizan Belgrade fixture. However, the firm impression was that he would make it, with the Frenchman remaining hopeful.
The Sun newspaper claims Łukasz has failed to prove his fitness and Wenger will instead hand a baptism of fire to Szczęsny. The claims are backed up by a suggestion Wojciech made on his Twitter page, claiming he is “prepared for Rooney”. The 20-year-old has played three times for Arsenal, all in the Carling Cup, and has three clean sheets.
If Fabiański fails to be involved, it could open the door for rookie stopper James Shea to be on the bench. Manuel Almunia is fit and available for selection but he has expressed his desire to seek a transfer elsewhere and is not being considered as an option. Almunia is thought to have returned to England from Spain this weekend after meeting his agent to discuss a January move.
Should Szczęsny start, it would be his first Premier League appearance for the club.
Crickey, going to be even more interesting match now!
gooo chezzney!! the future of Arsenal FC
All I can say is .. HOLY SHI-
You know,this should be a worry 9 times out of 10,but im pretty happy with this news,I believe in Szczesny.
Jamie huge news mate. Do you seriously think this news is the real deal.
we need fsbinaki. earlier he lacked condidence but now he is world class. his reflexes are really quick. we need him. its too early for Wojciech Szczesny.
I can only agree that Fabianski has been very good of late. But don’t you think its a bit exaggerated to call him world class? His reflexes have become much better along with his confindence. But the way he handles crosses sends shivers down my spine…
i dont like this news, pls bring back mannone
Mannone is shit.
Wenger stated in his pre-match press conference Almunia didn’t have an agent representing him.
The Almunia ‘saga’ is just pure fabrication.
Gunners we are and we will be. no need to worry dont you all feel the mood on air? fabianski is starting to learn what it means to be arsenal no1, but i also feel that zo is de man arsenal have been waiting for.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-baffled-by-almunia-exit-talk
Almunia has been meeting with his imaginary agent again?
we need fabiansik OOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWw God help him actually szczesny is better zen Almunia
Reading this again, this sounds ridiculous.
James Shea is going to sit on the bench instead of Almunia?
Almunia, for all his faults, is experienced and considered an ultimate professional.
I’ll believe it when I see it
Bad move. Woycheck has made clangers every game. He is just lucky he wasn’t punished with a goal.
I agree wenger might play Szczesny if Fabianski is injured but who really believes Shea will be on the bench if Almunia is ok
Almunia will either be on the bench or start no matter what the situation is with him right now
and he doesn’t have an agent so all this agent talk is complete rubbish
I just hope if Fabianski truly is injured then Szczesny gets the nod before Almunia, yes Szczesny lacks experience but he makes up for it with his talent and form and should get a chance to prove it
even if it means there’s a possibility of it going horribly wrong for us and him
sometimes a manager has to stick his head out and its the right time to do it now for wenger hopefully he will start along with Djourou
Szczesny in the goal against ManUnited?
I hope so..
Very good News!
I have strong feeling that Fabianski will not be playing tonight and I’m sure Wenger will not take any risk by playing him. Although this is Szczęsny first appearance but he has secure 3 clean sheets on his appearance in Carling Cup knockout stage. He has given hints in his twitter that he is more than ready to face Rooney, so why don’t give him chance and show our support towards him..
-bona fide-
If he plays, it will shut up the ‘Arsneal needs a new keeper’ camp~~ he is already full of confidence, what more are we afraid of?
AWESOME!!!!
Fellow Gooners kip in mind this kind of games can break or mek a young talent lyk Worjeck,xo I’l tek it with a pinch of salt if he’s gonna liv up2 xpectation.GUNNERS MEK ME PRUOD 2NYT!
I wish this will be announced on time because I want to bet on that game and surely the odds will be increased if Arsenal commented this case.
For me, I’m praying for Szczesny’s game, he has the quality the handle with MU. Beside, I hope Djourou will start alongside Squillaci tonight, Koscielny would be a high risk for this team. I’m very confident about this clash, we could win it, and interestingly, we have a bigger chance to do it with Szczesny.
with him we will beat them for sure!!!!
Really hope this is true. Szcez would relish this big game
Not sure why everyones so negative about Kos. For me he’s our second best after Verm so should and will start against the Manc. Johan is good but is still rusty, hence the clumsy mistakes he makes in each game
Koscielny has been awesome. Yes he has been beaten once or twice but it is his first season in the prem. It happens. They way he reads the game is amazing though. I have never seen a player intercept so many passes. He will be a perfect partner for the tougher Vermaelen.
GO GUNNERS!!
Didn’t Wenger say Almunia does not even have an agent at the moment? Sometimes I feel like you are just reporting other peoples articles.
Anyways, I am excited for this. I figured this is how Szczesny would get his shot to take over. If he is great verse Manchester United, it would be hard to take him back out.
Usually very good but this is poor Jay. You have reported his Twitter post out of context to support your point of view. Someone asked him if he studies opposition penalties and he replied that he does and he is more than ready for Wayne Rooney’s penalty. Not ready for Wayne Rooney in general as your article implies.
I never believe you are just repeating other people’s stories. This site is usually extremely reliable.
This one might just prove how good your sources are!
every one saying he is good, but playing football is diffirent in leauge n cup..some of arsenal fan are useless they do not know anything about football.
Phillip and shane i agree koscielny has been excellent for me when i have seen him for 90mins.
Hes got pace, great in the air, agressive, great compsure, good passer.
Hes got everything for me i really hope djorou and koscielny start but i have just heard szcensy will be starting so i guess it will be squillac and another
Squillachi is another Silvestre in waiting, I reckon Djourou has improved in the last 6 or so games to the point where he should be picked over him. Kos is just unlucky getting those cards, though for a defender he plays a very high risk game! And if Song doesn’t hold midfield tonight the GK, be it Fab or Shez, will be busy. Here’s to Shez, hope he gets his chance!
I agree Fabianski has been a solid, worthy first choice keeper recently but a top club needs two equally capable keepers to compete in 4 competitions with some 50 to 60 games to play.
I dont care about Szczęsny’s age, if he is the talent we all hope is he has to deliver even if his debut could not be set on a bigger stage.
He has been waiting for his chance and they don’t come bigger than this.
At Old Trafford, chance of confirming top spot and relegating ManU to the “second best club in their little town”
Make this one your night, good luck!
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=pl&ie=UTF-8&sl=pl&tl=en&u=http://www.sport.pl/pilka/1,65080,8809656,Premier_League__Szczesny_zagra_w_meczu_z_Manchesterem.html&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhh-wN_NAC8so-Bys1F1k9rcCTfqVA
this is what started all these rumors
J, a little off topic but you said you was going to publish an article about Jet. How’s that coming along
Thanks
Utter bollocks as usual, this wont happen.
what a wakeup call this will be for fans if chesney looses us the game. What then? Will you hate him like you hate Fabianski?
No one hates Fabianski. He is a good keeper and mainly a good shot stopper. Szczesney just has all the qualities needed to be a world class keeper. Agility, range in his diving, great reflexes, great on crosses, great swagger about him which you need as a keeper and the biggest thing that you can not teach…he is 6’5″.
Come on fabi, dont pass that fitness test!
Come on wojo!
all yall need to calm your shit down a couple of notches…..IKER CASILLAS started for Madrid at 18-19 YEARS OLDD! So stop fucking complaing about it and deal with it. Hell this kid might just keep united out our net tonight so but your backing and faith in him, cause its the only option we have right now.
J dilla- US GOONER
excuse me, he was between 18-21 when he started for madrid. my bad, but still.
To the people who said this wont happen, it has been confirmed be men enough and give credit where credit is due, JS was rite after all, that includes The Daddy.
Haters gonna hate. JS has been spot on time and time again. Why do people feel the need to not only doubt his reporting but attack his ability to report?
I just hope this prat Szczesny realises how lucky he is – had he kept on playing sily games and refused to re-sign, he would be in deep freeze right now and instead Mannone would have never been out on loan, and therefore getting this chance to show what he can do right here and now.