Arsenal News: Lukasz Fabianski out for the season, confirms Wenger
Arsenal shot-stopper and Polish International http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lukasz-Fabianski-c22910 will be out for the remainder of the Barclays Premier League season following an operation to his shoulder, revealed manager Arsene Wenger.
The youngster hasn’t featured for the side since injuring himself during the warm-up ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League clash against Manchester City at the Emirates nearly a month back. The setback is an obvious heartbreak for
the 25-year-old, who had arguably taken over the number 1 shirt for Manuel Almunia this term.
These were the words of the Arsenal boss when asked about the situation regarding his ‘effective’ first-choice goalkeeper:
"We had bad news for Lukasz Fabianski because he needs surgery on his shoulder. He has decided after having seen a few specialists that he will have surgery in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904. It means his season is over."
However, while young blood was the answer to Arsenal goalkeeping woes when Almunia misfired, another promising prospect by the name of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wojciech-Szczesny-c36998 comes under the spotlight. During Arsenal’s visit to Old Trafford to face
off against their historic rivals, Manchester United, the 20-year-old made a good impression on a rather crestfallen Arsenal fan following after it was revealed that Wenger wasn’t interested in splashing the green for the services of much experienced alternatives
in the form of Mark Schwarzer or http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Shay-Given-c33284.
With that said, Szczesny’s quest to defy all odds and become Arsenal’s youngest first-choice goalkeeper in quite a while faces renewed competition from the fit again http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-Almunia-c23386. The Spanish veteran was understood to have been
sidelined due to ‘an elbow injury’. Almunia also featured for Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth round game against Huddersfield and did reasonably well considering his absence from competitive first-team football.
To the possible predicament, Wenger offered: "The competition for the places at the moment will be between Wojciech and Almunia. Wojciech will play the next game (against Newcastle on Saturday)."
Whether the Arsenal manager’s decision to opt for youth over experience is merely based on protecting Almunia from a physical Newcastle side and thereby giving him time to recover or an indication of his long term strategy, only
time and Szczesny’s ability to cope with pressure on a consistent basis can tell.
Presently, Arsenal sit in 2nd position, five points off the pace from league leaders Manchester United. Since their success is heavily dependent on the latter slipping up, having a pair of safe hands in front of goal
was never more important.
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