During the summer, I along with many Arsenal fans was desperate to see Arsene Wenger sign a new goal keeper. Almunia didn’t fill us with confidence and when he had been injured Lukasz Fabianski stepped in and in all honesty he was worse!
We were linked with Mark Schwarzer from Fulham, a 38-year-old who has had his best days but even the link to him seemed a brighter prospect than having either ‘The Spanish Waiter’ or ‘Flappianski’ back then.
Despite other goal keepers names being touted around, the summer transfer window came and went and we didn’t get our wish!
The season began, Almunia was to remain our number 1 choice and no doubt I wasn’t alone in wondering when he would make his first mistake. We didn’t have to wait long, it came on the opening day of the season following an Ngog shot. Maybe we were being harsh as the shot had great power, no, we all could see that Almunia went down far too early. (no jokes please)
What many of us didn’t realise though at the time was despite all the mud-slinging that was heading in the direction of Flappianski, the player himself was keeping his own belief and in his own ability. I am sure many would have laughed at the thought…
However, our 25-year-old Pole has trained hard, worked hard and always kept his mind focussed on what he had to do in order to cement his place as Arsenal’s number one goal-keeper.
Even when there was a difficult time for me I was always focused on my job or I was always working hard, that is the only way I think you can achieve something.
Of course I have been through a difficult period but that’s life, that’s football. You have to just keep working hard and hopefully it will pay off.
I always say my only thing is to keep working hard, to try to play as best as I can and try to help the team.
Arsène Wenger has always stood by the Pole and has been quick to say that we are now seeing the Fabianski he has always seen in training!
I think the reason maybe why he said it was because he saw me every day in the training ground. Maybe he had a reason to say that.
Everyone is supporting each other no matter if they were supporting me. Every time, every single game we try to support each other so that is the spirit of the team.
I just want to stay focused. That is the main thing for me, to keep working hard. If there is a possibility to play, I’ll just try to play as best I can.
All he waited for was the moment to come when Arsene Wenger would ‘grow some’, drop Almunia and tell him ‘Fill your boots son – it’s your to throw away’ – ok, I know Wenger probably wouldn’t use such an expression but I’m sure you get the point.
That day finally came after a shock home defeat to West Bromwich Albion. Almunia had a shocker and we lost 3-2. After the game Wenger defended him citing an injury was to blame – the cynics among us thought different.
Flappianski took his place and has remained there since despite a dodgy display against the Tiny Totts. Following that game came what I believe to be the turning point in his career, that penalty save against FK Partizan.
Since then, we have seen a different player, so much so I now only call him Fabianski, maybe I and many others were a tad harsh on him, maybe, just like the Carlos Vela’s, Johan Djourou’s and a few others in our squad, he needed a run in the side.
Long may that remain!!
morning…..
Morning out of the topic did u read allegation about Arsene did anyone have the full story?
Morning Rico 🙂
Have you heard the Aw cheating with a french rapper
Morning Erick 😆
I have seen the story and am going to get the papaer a little later today, i can’t see much truth in it if i’m honest…
Morning all.i have always had faith in fabianski.Aw has been a bad bad boy…
Morning Baroktsion, I stayed away from the story in the post… the sun are the only paper carrying it…
Morning KT, I know you have, but many many had not and possibly still do not, will be interesting to see..
Who cares anyway?its his life and so long as it doesn’t affect his job at Arsenal i don’t care what he does in his private life.this story should also put to bed certain disgusting chants away fans hurl at him.
Fabianski has been great we don’t need to sign a keeper the waiter can warm the bench
Morning KT Times saying Aw is divorced so that story is rubbish. Rico 🙂 Wath has no Faith in Fab
That won’t stop the sickening chants KT, the idiots who hurl them out won’t change their ways….
Erick, I don’t want the waiter warming the bench, i want him warming the towels in the dressing room…
I don’t believe the story, well, not all of it 😉
Isn’t it supposed to have happened a couple of years ago in any case….
Rico i had heard that Aw was separated with his wife.is it true?if it is then the story has nothing to it.
The waiter will be an asset if we get injury Rico 🙂 and he may want to fight for his place you know what competition does bring out the best
I didn’t know that KT, like you say, who really cares anyway…
Erick, I’d rather Chesney as the reserve keeper… 😉
KT the Times is saying that but I don’t know
Rico am not writing Al off we never know anything can happen 🙂
Another hot topic is AA going to start tomorrow its time he stayed on the bench and Walcott deserves a start
Erick niaje msee?hope uko poa sana.Almunia sina hata lepe la imani naye wakati huu.Arsenali damu!!!
Trouble is Erick, I don’t see Al getting better now, we need to be showing Chesney he has a great future and get his contract signed…
Unajua season ni refu alafu kitu yeyote yaweza kutokea hakuna haja ya kumdunisha hawezi kutusaidia usipoteze imani Arsenali damu
Who care but some part of me think if this Story is true n I know the only thing that come first before arsenal is his family, did u think he might leave arsenal if there is to much pressure on his family n my feeling is arsen don’t wante talk about this every press confress as u all the meadia will be more intrested in his private life than the football soo unless arsene come out and sy something which is 1 to a million chance of that this will not stop
Erick wenger amempata kipusa kwa hivyo wenye wivu wajinyongee!!!
Rico I know Chesney is vital but a man once told me don’t look ahead too much think were your from
Hi T-arsenal – i think if wenger was the kind of man to get upset about stuff he would have gone by now, those sicko chants must upset him…
Nasikia ni mwimbaji 🙂
Oi you two, what you saying 😉
That’s what i’m doing Erick, thinking of Chesneys performance in the CC 🙂
Erick kama wasemavyo wahenga ‘macho hayana pazia’.
Rico just the Aw and Al story you think AA will start ahead of Theo and Walcott
Rico 🙂
Is it possible to go down too early?!
Sorry!
Morning rico, gooners…
And Nasir
And Nasir sorry
Thats a tough one Erick, no doubt those didn’t travel will all start… AA needs a break though.. Me, I’d start with Theo
Morning Rocastle, i knew you would have to comment 🙂
Couldn’t hold it in!!……ahem.
The club has released a press statement asking the media to respect Aw and his family’s privacy.i just wish he would call a press conference and say “I did not see her.thats all.”
Howdy Rocastle thats nice KT
KT 😆
Clichy and Nasri are in talks to extend their contracts…..
Clichy been wanting Rico
Nasri should extend his.clichy will have to prove his worth again before resigning him.
There has been rumours about Stevie me and a teenager that have been circulating.apparently 3 PL players have imposed superinjunctions on these stories and it is thought that stevie me is one of them.
Tell me about it Erick, but he was a very good LB, he can get that back in his game…
KT, just been reading that, one player has two weeks to appeal the decision to release the details, the injuctions have been imposed for a while now… The Stevie G one was around in the summer, just waiting for it to be in the News of The World…
wonder who the other two are, all three play for england i think, there can’t eb many left 😆
The three players who would’ve been evens at paddypower would’ve been terry,shrek and cashley who have already had their stories in the media this year.what are the odds of each of them doing a double?…
Rico am keeping the Faith hope Nasir does it sooner he is a real asset
i can’t see those three having anything left to come out KT… 😉
Erick, Nasri won’t hang around I’m sure, he’ll sign his in no time, he looks so happy playing and it shows in the way he plays now…
Erick why do you refer to nasri as nasir if you don’t mind me asking?
Rico you can only have too much of scum in a player…
Rico who do you think the three players are?…don’t mention gerrard as we all know he is in there somewhere.
Am used to Nasir because of my muslim friends but I will correct it KT
I have been trying to think about that KT, i’m sure its SG, so that only leaves two – I really can’t think who it could be, in fact i can’t think who plays for England these days 😉
I have a theory.Almunia found out about Aw’s fling.he blackmailed Aw to play him or he releases the story.Al performs so poorly that he gets dropped citing ‘injury’.he goes to sun posing as ‘the close friend/contact’ where he blows the whistle…
Erick – i knew who you meant 😉
Rico one thing is for sure;the other 2 players will come as a massive shock to most of us.
Rico 🙂 KT the media can make or break someone
KT, i think you are right, its probably the least expected players..
Erick, they can and I’m not sure thats a good thing either…
Pros and Cons Rico double edged sword
Oh to not be a superstar eh Erick 😉
Yeah Rico 🙂
I have to pop off for an hour or so, catch up in a bit…
Cheers Rico enjoy am about all day
BOO 🙂
bloomin heck, latest from the reebok is
bolton 2 tiny totts 0
3-0 😆
Bolton 4 tiny totts 2.get in!!!
Great result KT 🙂
Comment of the day…
Sky reporter says to Gretar Rafn Steinsson,
‘Did you have a sleepless night thinking about what Gareth Bale could do to you’?
Gretar Rafn Steinsson ‘ No, I slept really well’!! 😆
Spuds fans and the media overhyped bale but if pool somehow win tomorrow they’ll be level on points…thats funny!
KT, the only one to suffer from all the hype will be Bale, Steinsson didn’t give him an inch and that’s down to all the stuff about him…
If we win tomorrow we’ll be 8 points ahead of the tiny totts.
We need the three points regardless of the tiny totts KT, but it would be nice to have a big gap between us…
i just have a sneaky feeling the dippers are going to do us a favor tomorrow, we need to play to our best to make sure if they do, we don’t waste a chance…
Seems no-one around so I’m heading off,
catch up tomorrow, stay safe all, and enjoy the rest of your day….
Hi Rico,
Nice article. I thought at first you were talking about Cesc (Fab) in the headline of the post. 🙂
It doesn’t matter at all whether the rumour about Le Prof is true or not. It’s his business and no one else’s.
Just waiting for tomorrow’s onslaught from the tabloids though.
Oh O.K. then Ricodinho, see you tomorrow! 🙂
Typical you RA…. late 😉
gone now 😉
rico, for years now the GK position has been our soft underbelly (not LB!!! 🙂 ), but credit where credit’s due and Fabianski has not been all that bad in the run he’s gotten. 🙂
I will say thought that I am glad we didn’t go after Hart or Reina, although tomorrow, I hope the latter keeps a clean sheet.
Good night, catch you tomorrow. 🙂
Morning all, new post up
agag, 😆 re the LB, i have been defending him, honet….
honet = honest ,…..