Angry goalkeeper Szczesny ready for talks with Wenger

Arsene Wenger is facing a meeting with Wojciech Szczesny, the young Poland international goalkeeper, after he was left out of last night's Champions League match against Partizan Belgrade. 

The Arsenal manager decided to start the European Group H tie in Belgrade with Lukasz Fabianski, the error-prone Pole, after Manuel Almunia did not travel with the squad.

The official reason given by the club for Almunia remaining in London was because of an injury suffered in Saturday's shock 3-2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium. However, Wenger may well have decided to take the Spaniard out of the firing line after an error led to one of West Brom's goals. 

Fabianski has also made a series of high-profile mistakes and a source in Poland said Szczesny now believes he deserves the chance to stake his claim as the Gunners' No 1.

Last season when Fabianski was called into action he made a string of costly errors in big games both in the Premier League and Champions League. Szczesny, who enjoyed a productive spell on loan at English second tier side Brentford last season, believes he is a safer pair of hands than his rivals despite his lack of experience. 

The 20-year-old is likely to seeks talks with Wenger and want assurances over his future. Szczesny could ask to go out on loan again or hand in a transfer request.

Wenger rates the Warsaw-born keeper highly and views him as the club's future No 1. The manager is thought to have resisted a move for Shay Given, the 34-year-old Manchester City stopper, because he only wants a goalkeeper who will fill the No 1 spot for two years, by which time Szczesny will be ready to take over the reins. 

Wenger, according to Martin Keown, the club's former defender, also has doubts about Given's ability to come for crosses. That is why Wenger tried to sign Mark Schwarzer, the Fulham keeper who turns 37 next month, but the Cottagers rebuffed the approach.

Although Wenger's judgement of players and his eye for picking up young talent and turning them into world-class performers stands up against any rival manager's during his 14-year tenure with the Gunners, the one area his percipience can arguably be called into question on is the man he values between the posts. 

Szczesny threw down the gauntlet last week, demanding he be given a chance in the Carling Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur. But Fabianski got the nod, leaving Szczesny deeply unhappy.

"Despite our talks before the season, Arsene Wenger seems to forget he has a goalkeeper named Wojciech Szczesny in the team. He is avoiding me at every occasion," he said last week. 

"Wenger told me to fight for a first-team place, but then he didn't include me in the squad for the Carling Cup game." Szczesny then threatened to quit the club he joined three years ago as an academy player. 

"I'm ready to play at the highest level but I need a club that believes in a 20-year-old," he said. "At Arsenal there's no such bravery. My main goal is to play for Arsenal, but if there's a move option, we'll have words."

sports@thenational.ae