Wojciech Szczesny warns his Arsenal understudy Lukasz Fabianski he wants to be in goal for FA Cup final against Hull
Wojciech Szczesny has warned understudy Lukasz Fabianski he wants to be between the sticks for Arsenal in the FA Cup final against Hull.
Fabianski has played every game for the Gunners on their way to Wembley and saved two penalties in the semi-final shootout victory over Wigan on Saturday.
But with the possibility of Arsenal winning their first trophy in nine years now within reach, manager Arsene Wenger must decide whether or not to stick with Fabianski or reinstate regular first-choice goalkeeper Szczesny.
Throwing down the gauntlet: Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, seen here with Lukas Podolski, has told his understudy Lukasz Fabianski he wants to play in the FA Cup final against Hull
Safe hands: Arsenal's Lukasz Fabianski makes a save during the penalty shoot-out win over Wigan in the FA Cup semi-final but he faces a fight to keep his place for the final at Wembley
Man with the power: Wenger has to choose between Szczesny and Fabianski as to who will start in goal for the FA Cup final
Wenger fielded second-choice keeper Richard Wright from the fourth round to the semi-final during Arsenal’s run to the 2002 FA Cup final, having used third choice Stuart Taylor in the third-round win over Watford. But in the final, Wenger recalled his first-choice keeper, David Seaman, as the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-0.
Szczesny said: ‘It’s up to the manager who plays. I think Lukasz has done really well and deserves a lot of credit but I would love to play, obviously.
‘I’m an Arsenal fan and I just want us to get the trophy. It’s not about me playing. Lukasz has been doing really well and he was our shootout hero at Wembley, so I was happy for him.’
On Arsenal’s race to maintain their Champions League status, the Poland goalkeeper said: ‘Almost every game is a cup final for us now. We will have to get a result every single time we play and wait for Everton to drop points.
‘We had to dig out a result against West Ham on Tuesday, but I would take four or five wins like that from now until the end of the season. As long as we get three points it doesn’t have to be beautiful.’
Target ahead: Szczesny would love to play in the FA Cup final for Arsenal
Relief: Fabianski helped Arsenal reach the FA Cup final
Poor start: West Ham winger Matt Jarvis heads in the opening goal past Szczesny but Arsenal would recover from the setback
Point made: Podolski scored twice in Arsenal's 3-1 win over West Ham
Wenger will allow players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup to miss the club’s summer trip to America.
The Frenchman wants his stars to have a minimum of three weeks’ rest before returning to pre-season training, and he will allow those involved beyond the group stages in Brazil to miss the club’s mini-training camp in the USA, culminating in a match against Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls on July 26.
Theo Walcott, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, is unlikely to travel as he continues with his rehabilitation.
Still missing: Arsenal's Theo Walcott is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury
Midfielder Abou Diaby, though, will hope to play a part. He hasn’t played for more than a year because of a knee injury but is due to return to full training on Wednesday. Wenger wants to ease him back into the first-team fold and will look to give the 27-year-old games in the Under 21s or behind-closed-doors friendlies.
The Under 21s face Chelsea on Tuesday before travelling to Newcastle three days later and Diaby could feature.
Arsenal are continuing their attempts to tie Bacary Sagna to a new contract and are hopeful their third and final offer, understood to be a three-year deal, will be enough to persuade the French defender to stay.
Most watched Sport videos
- Dortmund boss Edin Terzic: It's a beautiful evening for the club
- Beckham on the importance of '99 after his difficult '98 season
- Neville turns hand to modelling as the new face of Hawes & Curtis
- Mbappe asked whether he will support Real Madrid tomorrow
- PSG boss: 'It's a sad feeling' as side exits Champions League
- Madrid staff storm the pitch after Joselu's winner against Bayern
- Jadon Sancho leads Dortmund stars in Adele rendition
- Jason Kelce claims Secretariat were 'doping' in the 1970s
- Tackle moment on field that made NRL great Fatty Vautin infuriated
- Glen Davis says jail is the only way he'll stop eating hamburgers
- Dortmund get the party started as they reach Champions League final
- Olivia Dunne celebrates boyfriend Paul Skenes' Pirates call up