Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Wojciech Szczesny: Arsenal No. 1 rival David Ospina is not my friend

Wojciech Szczesny insists he is not ready to give us his status as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper to summer arrival David Ospina.

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The signing of Colombian World Cup keeper Ospina has put pressure on Szczesny to hang on to his place in the Gunners lineup, but he told Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy he is not expecting to step aside any time soon.

While Szczesny appeared to form a strong bond with former Arsenal No. 2 Lukasz Fabianski, that level of friendship has yet to develop with Ospina.

"I feel confident of being No. 1 but I know I can't let myself play a few bad games," he stated. "I know Ospina's ambitions don't end at sitting on the bench and clapping his hands while watching me play.

"He is a nice guy. In a sporting sense, he is a suitable player at a suitable club. But it's easier for me just in one aspect: I do not feel sorry for him.

"I do not think 'he's my friend,' as I thought about Fabianski. I was convinced Lukasz deserved to play, but not at my expense."

Szczesny kept 16 clean sheets and won the Premier League Golden Glove award as a result last season, which he admitted has been a comfort to him as he has failed to record a shut-out in the first three leagues game of this campaign.

"When I look at the strikers in the Premier League, I wonder when the first one [clean sheet] will be," he added. "The power of our opponents is amazing, this season everything can happen, but when I have a bad day I look at the Golden Glove award and I feel better straight away."

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