Szczesny believes we will win tomorrow, he's crazy! Samir agrees new deal.

Well our young Polish keeper says he’s a bit mad and with it comes great belief in himself and the team ahead of Sunday.

This time last season we were all crying out for a new goal keeper, both Almunia and Fabianski were displaying their weaknesses – every keeper linked to us raised hope but we didn’t forget about our young Pole who was showing his class on loan at Brentford. ‘Too young’ some cried, others disagreed citing Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas – others meanwhile kept belief in what we had!!

Who would have thought back then that it would Szczesny playing in the Carling Cup Final tomorrow…

Picture from afcnews.com
Who's Mad, Me??

Many a time we have heard the old saying about to be a great goal keeper you have to be ‘a bit mad’ and Jens Lehmann was/is living proof of that and Szczesny agrees with that theory.

All the top goalkeepers are crazy, you’ve seen in the past where they are a little bit bonkers so maybe I have a piece of that, nothing worries me, not really, I am just very confident, I keep my feet on the ground.

I was born this way. I believe in my own ability and that’s why I’m confident that every time I go out on the pitch, whether it’s Stoke and we have to face a lot of crosses in the box or Barcelona and the best strikers in the world, I believe in my ability and I am confident before the game.

I love the atmosphere, I love the surroundings and I’m just looking forward to playing at Wembley. It’s a massive occasion but I believe I’m going to enjoy playing there. You always dream to play at stadia like that, so when you do get to play there you have to enjoy yourself.

We maybe the bookies favourites to win but that will mean nothing tomorrow, it’s a one-off do or die match which both sides will be desperate to win. There is no taking this game for granted, that’s for sure.

It’s hard to talk about favourites in the Cup because for Birmingham it’s the only chance they get to win a trophy this season, they will be up for it. It’s hard to say who is the favourites but we believe we can beat them and win the trophy.

It would be a massive boost and I believe if we do win the trophy we will have more desire to push on from there and win all the trophies.”

Szczesny will be watched by his biggest fan on Sunday, his father Maciej who himself was a great goal keeper in his day and represented Poland; he remains the only player to have won the Polish championship with four different clubs.

Most would be nervous playing at Wembley and in front of their idol but not our Chesney, he believes having his greatest fan in the crowd along with a few more members of his family will spur him on and give him a greater incentive to win his first piece of silverware….

So, a bit of craziness from a young man who firmly believes in himself. In front of him will be a very strong back four and another fab six!

Birmingham’s Cameron Jerome may think our defensive unit is our weakness, I however believe they may just turn out to be our strength…

The red tops are reporting that Nasri has agreed a new five-year deal with us and gets a pay rise with it. Good, he’s worth every penny! AFC.com are yet to confirm that piece of news but Wenger has expressed his ‘delight’ that Jon Miquel Toral Harper of Barcelona has decided to join Arsenal. The young midfielder is poised to join us in the summer. Always nice to get one over the Catalan Club isn’t it…

That’s it for today! Have a good Saturday, tomorrow is Cup Final day and we’re in it…..

How good does that sound?

Don’t forget our regular blogger Rocastle is having a Birthday bash on Sunday at Club CK2, so if you are in the Wembley and don’t have a ticket for the match, why not go and join him and many other Gooners….

Happy Birthday Rocastle.....

228 thoughts on “Szczesny believes we will win tomorrow, he's crazy! Samir agrees new deal.

  1. Erick says:

    Howdy People am already excited for Sunday! Come on you Gooners. Rico Woj I think is Polish I may be wrong 🙂

  2. JonJon says:

    morning..
    thats why hes our number one aint it..hes got presense the others dont and that cos hes crazy..the others are mild mannered and mild mannered keepers are just average..

    i dont know whats going on with nasri..this is a story that seems regurgitated from a while back..

    the terms are agreed but nothing will be signed until the summer..i hope afc.com do reveal all tho

  3. rico says:

    morning jj, if its signed and sealed they will announce it tomorrow before the final, i bet, just for a little lift …

  4. Erick says:

    Rico I think the contract had some difficulties..going by how alot of players put pen to paper in the middle of the season.

  5. JonJon says:

    my internet went dead last night so i ‘dissapeared’..
    wheres ktr?? we need to finish off this nasri thing.. 😉

  6. rico says:

    Chesney
    Sagna JD Kos Clichy
    Wilshere Song Diaby/Rosicky
    Nasri RvP AA

    Bench – Squilli, Gibbs, Nik, Chamakh Rosicky/Diaby, Eboue Almunia…

    Thats my hope for tomorrow 🙂

  7. rico says:

    jj, that would be something wouldn’t it but i’ve finally accepted he isn’t playing 😉

    i thought you had gone off for some ‘friendly’ blogging with ‘j’ 😉

  8. rico says:

    Erick, i thought his and AA’s was being sorted in January… as long as he signs, i’m not fussed when he does it 🙂

  9. Erick says:

    Aw claims we will play through Wilshere,Nasri must no be happy may be that means Diaby is going to start and Nasri on the flanks

  10. Erick says:

    JJ Woj is crazy indeed eh..Rico agents are so greedy and always talking crap to players I blame them on the slow contract signing

  11. DeiseGooner says:

    Team for tomorrow?

    Chezzer

    Sagna Djourou Koscielny Clichy

    Wilshere Song Diaby

    Nasri RVP Arshavin

    That should see us through eh??

    COYG

  12. DeiseGooner says:

    Cesc on the bench for a token appearance right at the end? or is that me just being too sentimental?

    Just gotta win this game. Its ‘only’ the league cup but it would be too damaging to lose it. Unthinkable.

  13. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning, Hmmmmm I think I need a siesta, I went and did some practicing last night for 2moro…! Hmmm think it said 04.20 when I eventually got to bed…! Some people take cup final weekends far to seriously 😉

  14. JonJon says:

    he hasnt been around rico..which isnt a bad thing 😉
    to be honest rico ive remained pretty civil most times but after a few weeks of ‘civil schooling’ he resorted to writing 1000 word essays about some crap about paradigms and trapeziums and pythagorous and other non football oxbridge bollox which he was calling me clueless in every single one of his posts..which is a sign of a man on the run…he just doesnt like being told he’s wrong and he starts behaving like a spoilt little girl…thats when i ended up telling him about himself, which doesnt go down well with some of them, but its just rules of engagement..dont insult unless you are ready to be insulted… but other than that its just been pure football schooling..

  15. JonJon says:

    morning wath me ol plum 😉

    im setting off tonight and i dont think il sleep until monday depending on the result 😉

  16. W.A.T.H says:

    Nope no sore head Rico am lucky i never get one but I think I need a little kip lata cos am out again lata and then 2moro is an early start and a very early finish sometime monday morning 😉

    JJ ya spangly lycra lover 😛

  17. JonJon says:

    i agree with erick..
    and if you want stats just look at all nasris goals hes scored while cesc and robin were out…
    he doesnt do the same job as cesc but hes more lethal..
    the game will go thru jack..jack will be the playmaker nasri will play as a SS behind robin and he will interchange with the other two..
    hes great out wide but he scores his goals thru the middle and hes our top scorer so all this dont play nasri in the middle is sock smoking… 😉

  18. Erick says:

    Rico and Deise that line up can kill the brums and batter barca..the question is will they raise to the occassion eh

  19. JonJon says:

    i got me a ticket wath
    took me a while to get one it was a bit squeeky bum but i got a few contacts down there..
    i’ll make my way down and pick it up once i get their..
    no doubt ill be sat in row triple z behind a column or something 😉 but as long as im there i dont care..

  20. DeiseGooner says:

    Erick – if the team cant ‘be up for it’ in a cup final and a chance for a first arsenal trophy for all but Clichy then i dont know what they are about.

    All the talk from the players is of hunger and desire. If we see that then our quality will win the day

  21. DeiseGooner says:

    yes K-TR7 we have, and its too horrible to take it beyond that initial thought of what if – bad enough falling at the final hurdle, thats a sickner. But i would knock the stuffing out of us for a few games – enough to mean we would end the season with nothing or all our hopes riding on maybe just the fa cup or something

    WE WILL WIN IT!!

  22. K-TR7 says:

    Erick AA and Rvp play very well with each other because rvp drops deep to allow AA to move central to cause damage.they are also on the same wavelength and along with cesc,nasri and jack can produce almost telepathic link up play that is magical to watch.

  23. K-TR7 says:

    AA and Rvp are also the most explosive players in our squad.when the adrenaline gets flowing they can be devastating.we are in a final and i expect nothing less from them.

  24. K-TR7 says:

    Diaby will add some height during setpieces.i also hope the diaby we see tomorrow is the unplayable one.he was a beast in the 2007 CC final and i hope that will be the case tomorrow.

  25. DeiseGooner says:

    Diaby on his day is almost unstoppable – he and we need more of those days – plus he really does owe the team for that newcastle sending off – is it too much to ask on first game back though – if he does start – maybe Rosicky will get a run out – hes in the goalscoring form of his season so far!! ha ha

  26. rico says:

    tomas may just be a little more confident after his goal too, but with wenger we never know who will start – nik and eboue in there no doubt ….

  27. K-TR7 says:

    In 08/09 season when we played at St.james park diaby’s goal,our second goal, was excellent.he made one of those mazy runs from deep and then played a one-two with rvp to finish in the top corner.he scored an almost carbon copy at villapark but it was more breathtaking as he started the move on the right flank in our own half.in our squad he is the only player who can do that and if he plays behind rvp tomorrow i hope he has one of those blinding displays.

  28. K-TR7 says:

    Rosicky still has the pace,technique and passing.he is the closest thing to cesc in the squad.maybe he lacked confidence in the final third.that goal for us and another for the czechs may do him a world of good confidence-wise.i really do hope we see the real little mozart.

  29. Onyeabor gabriel says:

    The weapon for tomorrow’s match is the player not to underate brimgingham. And to understand themselves.

  30. K-TR7 says:

    Rico people forget before diaby got sent off he was absolutely brilliant in that game.i still believe in him as he has got everything to be a top player.

  31. rico says:

    I don’t forget he was having a good game KT but you his reaction was very silly, he should know better and ultimately he cost us two points…

    Any player who gets sent off for reacting is crazy…

  32. rico says:

    He scores from them Erick, in his own net 😉

    Hi Will, no – just sly digs and i take no notice anymore, let them say what they like….

  33. Lee says:

    Good afternoon everyone, it’s so apparent that the media really dislike AFC…I was just listening to talksport where Jon Lydon was a guest, stan collybeater rang in to ask Lydon a question and when asked what he (collybeater)was up to this afternoon, he said “going to Wigan to hopefully watch manu extend their lead to 4 points!”….TWAT!!!!

  34. rico says:

    Too right Erick, he has just naffed up a decision too, clear penalty for Leeds and he didn’t give it – the commentator then metioned the bizarre penalty decisions he gave to ‘allow/facilitate’ Newcastles come back…..

  35. Lee says:

    be really nice to stick 2 fingers up to the media…starting with a comprehensive win tomorrow(i’d take 1-0 right now)!!!

  36. rico says:

    Morning oliver – we all share your feelings and doesn’t the day seem to drag, not that we should wish our life away….

  37. oliver says:

    we’ll see how it goes…for me, the major remaining question is who starts in cesc’s place. i would select diaby…the rest of the side picks itself and i would make our bench al (only because the other fab is also out), gibbs, squil, eboue, rosicky, nik, chamakh…

  38. allezkev says:

    Saw a bit of the Sporting vs Rangers game on YoungGuns, concentrating on the display of Kyle Bartley. Gotta say, he was quite impressive. We don’t hear much about him, but that doesn’t mean that AW has forgotten. Hpoe he’s included in the squad next season. Onwards and Upwards. Howdy Rico, got the supermarket myself in awhile..ugh. Great post btw.

  39. allezkev says:

    Btw, WATH’s 1971 underpants. I hope he’s washed them since Charlie George scored…. Or maybe he stands them up in the corner…lol Only joking mate…

  40. oliver says:

    hi kev…it’s on at 11 am here…my family and I shall beat sunday school and morning worship then, so i shall have to tevo it and watch later.

  41. allezkev says:

    Ok mate, as long as nobody gives you the score first [no peeking on the web]. Have you managed to to convert the rest of your folks into Gooners?

  42. allezkev says:

    Just read that Dean Richards [ex-Wolves/Spud c/h] has died at 36… Man that’s sad. Poor sod, that’s no age.

  43. rico says:

    Hi kev – thanks re the post…

    not keen on the supermarkets but today was ok, really quiet, must be all the sport going on … 🙂

  44. oliver says:

    my iPhone is set to give txt alerts…my son watches with me sometimes, but nobody else too interested…i probably would not support if I had not lived in peterborough for a few years…it was there I caught the proverbial bug…this was pre-arsene so tickets were fairly easy to obtain, and highbury was easy to get to, either by rail to finsbury or car to cockfosters and picadilly line to arsenal….seems a lifetime ago, in many ways for me it is…

  45. allezkev says:

    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news…again..
    That’s interesting Oliver, does your lad play ‘soccer’ at school? From what you see or read, do you think footie is growing over there or still a minor sport?

  46. Steve Palmer says:

    Afternoon all,
    More bad news Utd just scored 1.0 against Wigan but the good news Wigan is fighting back.

  47. allezkev says:

    Hi Steve. See that Eastmond is on the bench ‘again’ for Millwall. Now what is the point of him even being there??? Afobe is playing for Huddersfield.

  48. rico says:

    From caughtoffside…

    Arsenal are to raid Lorient again this summer with a £15million bid for prolific striker Kevin Gameiro.
    The 23-year-old was the subject of interest from West Ham and Tottenham last summer.
    But neither club were prepared to take a risk on an unproven striker, who at 5ft 8ins, is deemed to be too slight for the rigours of the Barclays Premier League.

    However, Gameiro has scored 15 goals in 22 games this season and Arsenal are in pole position after watching him extensively.
    Their prospects of signing him have been enhanced by the good relations between the two clubs following last summer’s £8m deal for defender Laurent Koscielny.

  49. rico says:

    I used to go and watch them when i was younger Steve, they are my local club – back then though they played at Elm Park….

  50. rico says:

    Not at all Steve, i’m not a london born gooner, just fell in love with them in the very early 70’s, haven’t looked back since, even though i used to go to watch Reading, Arsenal were my real team 😉

  51. Steve Palmer says:

    I read on one of the blogs this morning that the Barca youngster Harper had signed for us, any news rico

  52. Joaquim Moreira says:

    yes, but why Rooney was not sent off? yes, he plays for Mu…
    Gameiro of course… since last November was my prognostic… we have a player loan to Lorient :-)) and Gameiro is descendent from Portugueses :-)))

  53. JonJon says:

    its not a worry we announce a pre tax loss at this stage..
    most teams due as the prize money is not given out yet until the end of the season..
    but the contracts is a worry..we have too many players…
    it needs to be cut this summer

  54. rico says:

    JM, they have and i’m watching 🙂

    jj, all that money stuff confuses me……

    the mancs will now face their toughest test and with a CL game in between but then we are in the same position, just haven’t got to play the chavs twice 😉

    I may have to cheer on John ‘Thomas’ Terry those two days…

    😆

  55. rico says:

    agree jj, i see a few going, sad, but true… but i think we will see 7/8 go in the summer, not all reserves either….

  56. JonJon says:

    its basically saying that we lose money every month throughout the season cos the wages are too high..and when you make 3mil every home game it shows how high the bill is..
    we only make our money up at the start of the season if we sell players and at the end when we get the prize cash…

    players will leave in summer for defo and im excited cos it wont be the players we need to keep..
    it will just be the dreggs who eat into the bill

  57. rico says:

    i’m off for a bit guys/gals…

    jj, have a safe trip and catch up next week, same goes for anyone else travelling to wembley today….

    see you a bit later….

  58. JonJon says:

    exactley rico
    it will be alot of the second team..the young guns will come in to replace them..
    slash the bill and give the young lads a chance..

  59. JonJon says:

    seeya rico..
    seeya guys..
    up the gunners come on we are going to do this and it will be the start of something special.. 😉

  60. allezkev says:

    Rico, you a Berkshire girl..! Do you live close to Nick Hornby??? lol. Didn’t ever get to Elm Park, mores the pity, as it’s gone now.

  61. Lee says:

    The media, shockingly enough think that brum will spring a surprise….come on you Gunners, let’s do it for Cesc and Theo!!!

  62. allezkev says:

    Ah the media. My solution. Tear it up into strips, about 5″x6″. Punch a hole throughout strips and thread some string through the strips. Tie the string, place in toilet and don’t worry about the newsprint. Problem solved.
    Rico, were you watching the rugby?

  63. allezkev says:

    Lee, the media hate us, always have, always will. But the criticism is good mate, because it means Arsenal are good.

  64. Lee says:

    Well I,m watching it in predominantly west ham pub in the middle of the Essex countryside…but nearly all of the punters there appreciate our football, and will be cheering us on….ish!!! Come on you Gunners!!!!!!!

  65. allezkev says:

    An Essex West Ham pub……be carefull there’s a lot of Spuds in Essex, i used to live in Romford, lots of Spuds & plastic Mancs

  66. rico says:

    Brave man Lee 🙂

    kev, don’t worry – HH has a fan base all over, we’ll get folk on here after the game – well, if we win… 😉

  67. allezkev says:

    I’ll be in my front room, with a cool beer in one hand and my ‘rattle’ in the other. Lee will be in a pub, Rico will be behind the settie, haha.

  68. Lee says:

    Kev, I lived in Gidea Park for years but moved north, near Colchester a few years ago….yeah grew up with a lot of hammers,spuds and plastics!!

  69. allezkev says:

    I moved to Harold Hill in 1987, and moved down to Kent 2004. My eldest son still lives in Harold Hill. Do you know the Pompadours ph on the Hill?

  70. Lee says:

    I’m hoping that my typing tomorrow, will need my spare hand to cover one of my eyes whilst I try and focus!!! I should apologise now!!!!!

  71. Lee says:

    I know the pomps, we drunk in the shepherd and dog in Harold wood or the archers in Gidea park… I moved out to Colchester in 2001, after the birth of my son

  72. allezkev says:

    My son Knows the Archers, never been in there myself. I used to go in The Bear or The Chequers.
    Rico, you have to chill out, it’s gonna be ok, trust me…
    Lee, my son did live in a flat close to Harold Wood Stn. A good Indian Restaurant close by. That’s how we’re going to celebrate tomorrow, a ruby, yummmmm.

  73. allezkev says:

    Spanish football is getting like the Scottish league, two good teams and the rest just making up the number. The EPL is head and shoulders above La Liga.

  74. allezkev says:

    Yeah, i think Wenger almost got him before Red Nose steamed in. It looks like Smalling is turning out another missed one.

  75. allezkev says:

    Spot on Rico. I must have been in London when you posted that one. You know, if we can keep it tight then i think Barca will run out of steam in the Camp Nou. Most Spanish teams seem to go behind to the Cataloons and simply capitulate.

  76. allezkev says:

    Don’t you worry about tomorrow Rico, i’ll keep your spirits up. Victoria Concordia Crescit, or summink like dat….

  77. rico says:

    Thats just it Lee, NB could score out there in spain, the league is no better than in scotland, two teams and then nothing….

  78. rico says:

    thanks guys, i just got fed up with all the ‘barca missed so many chances’ stuff – so did we that night and yes, villa and messi are great players but life in the PL is a different ball game….

  79. rico says:

    oh, and take messi out of barca and ronaldo out of real madrid…. what would be left – would thay score so many…. nah…

  80. rico says:

    i know Lee, let them, we are on our way up, they won’t sustain what they have, they are broke and the new rules will step in….

  81. allezkev says:

    What do you think of Navas Lee? Is he any good, would he fit in with us? Not that i think AW would pay the type of fee they’d want.

  82. rico says:

    Guys, i wantd to go to the bookies but its against my ways in life…

    I would have bet on three wins –

    England in the rugby
    England in the Cricket WC
    Arsenal in the CC

    One down, two two to go…..

  83. rico says:

    That’s me done for the day, you goys have a good evening and see you tomorrow at some stage….

    Get some sleep if you can 😉

    nighty night…..

  84. allezkev says:

    Did either of you see the Be a Gunner,Be a Giver interviews conducted by Alan Davies? Wenger, Keown and Winterburn answering questions to a live audience.

  85. allezkev says:

    Yes mate, it’s maybe the start of another successfull trophy winning period. Win this [and we will] and the rest will fall into place. Don’t even consider the alternative…

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