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<small>''Apps'' – Appearances; ''G.C.'' – Goals conceded; ''C.S.'' – Clean sheets.<br>
<small>''Apps'' – Appearances; ''G.C.'' – Goals conceded; ''C.S.'' – Clean sheets.<br>


==Honours==
<big>==Honours==
===Arsenal===
===Arsenal===


Line 128: Line 128:
Runner-up:
Runner-up:
*[[League Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[2010–11 Football League Cup|2010–11]]
*[[League Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[2010–11 Football League Cup|2010–11]]
</big>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:58, 9 August 2011

Wojciech Szczęsny
Personal information
Full name Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny[1]
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) [2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 13
Youth career
2005–2006 Legia Warszawa
2006–2008 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008– Arsenal 15 (0)
2009–2010 → Brentford (loan) 28 (0)
International career‡
2009– Poland U21 6 (0)
2009– Poland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 May 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 June 2011

Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny (pronounced [ˈvɔi̯t͡ɕɛx ˈʂt͡ʂɛ̃snɨ], approximately VOY-chekh sh-CHENS-nə; born 18 April 1990) is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal in the Premier League. He is the son of former Polish international goalkeeper Maciej Szczęsny.

Early life

Before turning to football, Szczęsny first learned ballroom dancing, and later excelled at javelin.[3] His father, Maciej, is a former Polish international goalkeeper, and his elder brother, Jan, also plays as a goalkeeper, currently for Gwardia Warszawa in the 7th tier of the Polish league system.

Club career

Szczęsny trained at Agrykola Warszawa as a young player; soon, Legia Warszawa's goalkeeping coach, Krzysztof Dowhan, was so impressed with the young keeper, he allowed him to take part in a training camp with Legia's first team at the age of 15, joining them afterwards.[4][5]

Early Arsenal career

In 2006, Szczęsny joined the Arsenal youth set-up, progressing to the reserve team during the 2008–09 season. In November 2008, he lost his balance while lifting a heavy weight and both his forearms were fractured, causing him to miss five months.[3] Szczęsny appeared on the first team bench for the first time during the Premier League match against Stoke City on 24 May 2009. At the start of the 2009–10 season he was promoted to the senior squad and given the number 53. He received a call up for the UEFA Champions League match against Standard Liège on 16 September 2009, featuring on the bench.

On 22 September 2009, Szczęsny made his first team debut in the League Cup, keeping a clean sheet against West Bromwich Albion.[6]

In December 2009, Arsène Wenger revealed that he and the rest of Arsenal's coaching staff have high hopes for Szczęsny, saying "We have identified Wojciech as a future great, great goalkeeper."[7][8] In January 2010, Wenger said: "I really believe in him that he will one day be Arsenal's No 1. He has all the qualities you want from a goalkeeper."[9][10]

Brentford (loan)

On 20 November 2009, Szczęsny joined League One team Brentford on a month's loan. He saved a second-half penalty in his second match in the 1–0 loss to Wycombe Wanderers. Szczęsny completed his fifth game for Brentford on 12 December 2009, where he made a number of saves to keep out Leeds United and was given the Man of the Match award.[11] On 22 December, Arsenal agreed to extend the loan for a second month until 17 January 2010,[12] and then until 31 January. Finally, it was extended until 31 May.[13] In April, Brentford manager Andy Scott said: "His performances suggest that he would not be out of place in the Championship or even the Premier League. It has reached the stage where when he lets in a goal we wonder why he hasn't saved it."[14] On the 7th of May 2011, Tom Pattimore reiterated that he heard that he was Brentford's best ever goalkeeper, after playing just a handful of games for the club.[citation needed]

2010–11 season

On 27 October 2010, Szczęsny made his second appearance for Arsenal in the League Cup, keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United at St James' Park. He showed real quality by stopping numerous attempts from Newcastle players.[15] He made a splendid diving save to deny Alan Smith his first goal for Newcastle United, and kept Arsenal on level terms. Arsenal then went on to win the game 4–0. He signed a new long-term contract on 11 November 2010. Szczęsny thanked his personal goalkeeping coach, Josh Phelan, and his father Maciej Szczęsny (who was also a keeper for the Polish national team), for helping him progress in his breakthrough season.[16][17] Szczęsny made his Premier League debut in the 1–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 13 December 2010, deputising for Łukasz Fabiański and Manuel Almunia, who both missed the match through injury.[18] On 8 January 2011, he started the FA Cup third-round match against Leeds United conceding from a penalty scored by Leeds midfielder Robert Snodgrass. Despite diving the correct way and getting a hand to the ball, the strike had too much power for Szczęsny to keep out. The game finished 1–1. The following weekend, Szczęsny kept his first league clean sheet in a 3–0 win over West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground.

Following Szczęsny's form after playing consecutive Premier League matches, Wenger confirmed that Szczęsny would remain Arsenal's first choice goalkeeper, stating "he's done nothing for me to take him out."[19] On 16 February, Szczęsny starred in his Champions League debut against Barcelona at the Emirates. The game finished 2–1 for Arsenal with Szczęsny making a number of saves.[20] On 27 February, Szczęsny let in a late Birmingham City winner in the League Cup Final. In the 89th minute, a header caused confusion between Szczęsny and defender Laurent Koscielny where the latter pulled out of a clearance at the last minute causing the former to lose control of the ball, which rolled right into the path of Birmingham player Obafemi Martins, who converted from near the penalty spot. On 8 March, Szczęsny started in the Champions League game against Barcelona only to be substituted in the 19th minute for an injury later to be confirmed as a dislocated finger. He was sidelined for six weeks, but was immediately reinstated to the first XI upon his return to fitness, playing 90 minutes in Arsenal's game against Liverpool. Szczęsny enjoyed a successful game, making several crucial saves and holding his ground in front of arguably one of the most testing strike partnerships in the Premiership consisting of Luis Alberto Suárez and Andy Carroll. However he couldn't manage to save Dirk Kuyt's 102nd minute penalty, leaving Arsenal and Liverpool to settle for a 1–1 draw.[21] On 20 April, Szczęsny played in a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. He brought down Spurs winger Aaron Lennon to give Tottenham a penalty, but also made a number of impressive saves during the match, which ended 3–3. He was voted as Arsenal's fourth best player of the 2010–11 season on Arsenal.com, Arsenal's official website.

2011-2012

Szczęsny played a half in each of Arsenal FC's pre-season games on their tour of Malaysia and China. In all of Arsenal FC's pre-season matches, Szczęsny only conceded two goals. Szczęsny was given the number 13, formerly worn by attacking midfielder Alexander Hleb.

International career

Szczęsny also plays for Poland's U-21 team and has started all three 2011 European Championship qualifying matches to date. He was also placed on stand-by for the Polish national team by manager Leo Beenhakker for the team's World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Slovenia in early September 2009. However, since none of Poland's top three goalkeepers dropped out, he was not called up and instead played the U-21 qualifiers against Spain and Finland. He has a total of six caps for the U-21 squad.[22]

In October 2009 new manager Franciszek Smuda sent Szczęsny his first call up to the full national side, for the friendly matches against Romania and Canada.[23] Szczęsny made his debut versus Canada on 18 November 2009, coming on as a 46th minute substitute for Tomasz Kuszczak.[24] He earned his second cap and his first full match in a February 2011 friendly against Norway.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of 22 May 2011
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps G.C. C.S. Apps G.C. C.S. Apps G.C. C.S. Apps G.C. C.S. Apps G.C. C.S.
Arsenal 2009–10 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1
Brentford (loan) 2009–10 28 30 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 30 10
Arsenal
2010–11 15 19 5 2 2 0 5 3 3 2 1 1 24 25 9
Career total 43 49 15 2 2 0 6 3 4 2 1 1 53 48 20

Apps – Appearances; G.C. – Goals conceded; C.S. – Clean sheets.

==Honours==

Arsenal

Winner:

Runner-up:

References

  1. ^ "Statistics" (PDF). Premier League. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  2. ^ "Poland – Wojciech Szczesny".
  3. ^ a b Hytner, David (4 February 201). "Inside the weird world of Arsenal's new No1, Wojciech Szczesny". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Wojciech Szczęsny". 90minut.pl. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  5. ^ Dawidziuk, Adam (16 December 2009). "Ranking polskich bramkarzy według Dowhania". sports.pl. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Arsenal 2–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Exclusive Wenger webchat – Part Two". Arsenal F.C. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  8. ^ Dawson, Alan (28 December 2009). "Arsene Wenger looking forward to Wojciech Szczesny's continued development at Arsenal". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 December 2009. [dead link]
  9. ^ Teale, Nick (26 January 2010). "Wenger – Szczesny can be Arsenal's No 1". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  10. ^ Teale, Nick (23 April 2010). "Wenger – Szczesny is our future No. 1". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Brentford 0-0 Leeds United". BBC News. 12 December 2009.
  12. ^ "Brentford extend goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's loan". BBC Sport. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  13. ^ "Wojciech Szczesny extends loan with Brentford". Arsenal.com. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  14. ^ "Szczesny earns Scott plaudits". eurosport.yahoo.com. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  15. ^ "Szczesny: Arsenal's Nets Big Thing". ministryofglove.com. 29th Oct. 2010. Retrieved 30 Oct. 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  16. ^ http://arsenal.ie/interview-with-arsenals-new-no1-wojciech-szczesny/
  17. ^ "Wojciech Szczesny pens new long-term contract". Arsenal.com. Arsenal FC. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Park puts United on top of Premier League". Agence France-Presse. Google.com. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Szczesny is Arsenal's No 1". Arsenal.com. Arsenal FC. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  20. ^ "Arsenal 2 – 1 Barcelona". BBC. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  21. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/9419371.stm "Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny ruled out for six weeks". BBC Sport. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  22. ^ Transfermarkt.co.uk – Wojciech Szczesny
  23. ^ Smuda powołał kadrę na mecze towarzyskie
  24. ^ "Polacy wreszcie strzelają". 90minut.pl. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.

Template:Poland Squad 2007 U-20 World Cup

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