According to certain sources Arsenal’s second (or third?) choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has tasked his agent with finding him a new club. The Pole, who is now 26-years-old has been at the club for four seasons now, but has never really laid claim to being Arsenal’s number one despite a number of opportunities.
He arrived at Arsenal from Legia Warsaw after having been named the top goalkeeper in the Polish League. It is fair to say that he hasn’t really showcased this form since joining the Gunners. It’s this lack of form that has seen him play Arsenal’s back-up keeper for the majority of his time in North London.
There was of course a period of time last season (before Wojciech Szczesny established himself at the club) where he was beginning to put in some good performances, but his standing with the fans will always remain damaged by a number of high profile mistakes he made when given opportunities to shine.
Since Szczesny’s rise to prominence, Fabianski has found himself completely shut out and has grown increasingly frustrated with his situation. His options are limited and his contract expires at the end of the season, so unless something very unlikely happens he wont be at the club next year.
You can’t help but feel that the time is right for him to move on. Fabianski when he’s on song is a decent enough keeper, but he’d only ever have been a back-up for the Gunners. Arsenal have found their number one keeper for the next 10-15 years in the shape of Szczesny and it’s fair to say that Fabianski will have very few chances to displace him should he elect to stay.
It would be to the benefit of his career then if he moves to a club who can offer him regular game time. As for Arsenal, they will have to look for another keeper to play back-up. I personally hope they go for somebody with a little more experience. The Gunners need a player who can fill in occasionally whenever Szczesny is unavailable and do so without causing too much damage.
To that extent another young inexperienced player wouldn’t really fit the bill. It’s almost inevitable that Fabianski will leave the club this January or the following summer. Let’s hope that Wenger makes the right decision when it comes to replacing him!
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