In a baffling development, Arsenal are being linked with the 37-year old Leeds United goalkeeper Rob Green. Joining Leeds United last season on a free from QPR, the Englishman consolidated his first-team position at the club displacing Marco Silvestri. With Leeds announcing Werder Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald, Green wouldn’t mind a swansong at the top flight of English football. But does the move make sense for The Gunners?
Arsenal’s goalkeeping scenario is in a bit of soup at the moment. Both David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny are linked with moves away this summer. Buying a 37-year old Green to stand back-up to a 35-year old Cech, who is himself on the wane, doesn’t make for a very astute signing. Arsenal also have in their ranks, Emiliano Martinez. The 24-year old Argentine has proven to be an assured presence behind the goal.
Wojciech Szczesny paved the way for Arsenal to sign Petr Cech in the summer of 2015. The Polish goalkeeper since then has had a reversal of fortunes in a two-year loan spell at Roma. With David Ospina attracting interest from Nantes recently taken over by Claudio Ranieri and heavily linked with Fenerbahce, it could be prudent for Wenger to consider keeping Szczesny at the club.
A move that would be in congruence with what many Gunners fans feel on the matter, may be difficult to pull off, with Juventus eyeing the 27-year old Pole as successor to the legendary Buffon.
With his loan spell at Roma coming to an end, Szczesny bid adieu to the club and its fans in a heartfelt message on Instagram: “Just realised that June has finished and I am no longer a player of AS Roma.
2 years of representing this club has given me a great joy and pride!
I can’t thank enough the club for the opportunity I was given here, coaching staff for helping me grow as a player, my teammates for all the great moments and victories we shared and the fans for always supporting and getting behind the team.
To all of you, I will forever be grateful!
Thank You and Forza Roma”
The Gunners have so far been quite active in the transfer market, having finalised a move for club record signing Alexandre Lacazette and Arsene Wenger is set for showdown talks with want-away striker Alexis Sanchez.
If Wenger manages to convince the Chilean to sign a new contract, having already shored up the defence with the capture of Sead Kolasinac, it would be a shame if their season went awry for the lack of an able goalkeeper.
As things stand, Arsenal look set to start with Petr Cech in goal next season with Martinez as his back-up. Whether Wenger manages to convince Szczesny to stay or signs Green, remains to be seen.
