Glad Fab stayed, or still think we should have sold him?

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!!