Arsenal's Fabianski hints at January transfer

Lukasz Fabianski has admitted he is fed-up of being Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper.

Fabianski is battling it out with fellow Pole Wojciech Szczesny to be number one for club and country.

Szczesny has established himself as No1 at Arsenal and that has left Fabianski frustrated and concerned about his long term future.

“It is really difficult," he said. "Of course not playing doesn’t make me happy. I want to play, that’s my goal.

“But as well, sometimes you have to be patient. Like I said, I am just fighting, fighting.

“If there is an opportunity, I want to play as well as I can and help the team. We will see what happens.

“At the moment, I focus on Arsenal. There is still time until January, almost two months. We will see what happens.

“I am going to keep fighting for the place. Wojciech is doing well, but I have to fight, work hard and see what happens.”

Fabianski lost his place through injury, but also gained a reputation for mistakes in some big games. He admits it will take the same for Szczesny to lose the jersey.

But Fabianski claims the competition is pushing them both forward and insists they remain friends.

“With me it was exactly the same because Manuel Almunia got injured, then I had my chance," he said.

“In football it is like that. Someone gets injured and the other guy is having a chance because of that. That is the rule of football.

“I have known Wojciech since he was 15. We were together at Legia Warsaw. We have known each other for so long. We are good mates.

“I don’t know if that makes it more difficult, but we are pushing each other and that can only help us.”

Fabianski has come back this season after seven months out following shoulder surgery.

The Poland international is now enjoying a run in the Gunners' Carling Cup side and insists he has put his errors behind him.

Fabianski added: “I am not thinking about making mistakes. I am just focused on the game and, of course, it is hard for the keepers - especially for me as I was out for a long time.

“I am coming back from the injury and for the keepers the most important thing is to play regularly. Then you can build up your confidence.

“I am just trying to take every single opportunity to show that I am deserving my chance.

“When you play regularly, your confidence and especially your feeling of the game on the pitch is better.

“I don’t want to be focused only on the Carling Cup and wait for that as you never know what happens during the league, and you have to be prepared for every single game.

“We are playing Chelsea [on Saturday] and obviously Wojciech will start, but I have to be ready as well.

“Like I said, I have to work hard and we will see what happens. What else can I say about it? It is difficult, but I have to accept it.”

*

ARSENAL'S POLISH KEEPERS SINCE THE START OF LAST SEASON

                                         Fabianski    Szczesny

Appearances                              14            24

Minutes on Pitch                    1260        2160

Goals Conceded                         14            37

Minutes per Goal Conceded     90.0        58.4

Clean Sheets                                 5             9

Saves from Inside Box                 15           38

Saves from Outside Box              18            25

Saves to Shots ratio                70.8%      64.1%

Penalties faced                              0             1

Penalties saved                             0              0

Punches                                       12           15

Catches                                       18            27

Dropped Catches                           2             2

Catch Success Rate                     89%         93%

*

Vermaelen declares himself fit for Chelsea test