Fab times ahead for Lukasz

23 January 2010 13:10
The Poland international keeper, set to feature in Sunday's fourth-round tie at Stoke as manager Arsene Wenger again rotates his squad, endured an afternoon to forget at the national stadium last April.[LNB]A rash dart out of the area handed Chelsea striker Didier Drogba a late winner in their semi-final clash on what was, to top it all, his 24th birthday.[LNB]While it was hardly the best way to stake a claim for Manuel Almunia's number one slot, Fabianski believes he is better for the experience.[LNB]"The way I thought about that FA Cup tie was maybe a bit wrong - it was my birthday, it was Wembley against Chelsea and maybe I pushed myself too much," Fabianski told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"I was not myself during that game. Now I just want to be focussed in every single game this season."[LNB]Fabianski, though, will not dwell on his Wembley nightmare.[LNB]"I am not really determined [to do well this season] because of what happened [at Wembley], because then it can turn against you," he said.[LNB]"Whatever the match is, whether it be FA Cup, Carling Cup, Champions League or Premier League, I am treating them the same and just trying to be really focused."[LNB]Wenger has no reservations about rotating his keepers for the cup competitions, with youngsters Vito Mannone and fellow Poland stopper Wojciech Szczesny, now on loan at Brentford, all pressing for some first-team action.[LNB]It was Italian Mannone who made the most of his opportunity following injury to Almunia earlier this season, playing in both the Champions League and Barclays Premier League as Fabianski was recovering from knee surgery.[LNB]Now fighting fit and having signed a contract extension during the summer, Fabianski intends to take every opportunity which comes his way, having played in the last round at West Ham as well as part of a young side away to Olympiacos before Christmas.[LNB]"The timing was bad for me [when Almunia was injured] and I could say that it should have been different, but now I look at that very calmly. You have to make smart conclusions," Fabianski said.[LNB]"I have had two years of great experience and even my bad injury helped me a lot.[LNB]"Some positives came out of the bad times and I was honestly surprised.[LNB]"I used that time really well because during that period I was at some stages really frustrated, but then I changed my way of looking at the situation and at the end it made me a better person."[LNB]Fabianski added: "It is really good to be in such a big club. I am still improving and that is a good thing.[LNB]"I signed a new contract and I feel really, really good here. For me it is important to fight for that first-team place.[LNB]"I am fighting really hard and it can take time to get there [to the number one spot], but when I get there I will really appreciate it because then it will be my time."[LNB]In the immediate aftermath of the Wembley defeat, Wenger was quick to give Fabianski his backing, confident the young Pole would go on to become "one of the best goalkeepers in the world".[LNB]Three days later Fabianski was back between the posts for what turned out to be an amazing game at Anfield and pulled off some decent saves despite being beaten four times in an eight-goal thriller.[LNB]Wenger continues to have full confidence in the 24-year-old.[LNB]"Fabianski is a top-level player, that means he is very demanding with himself," said the Arsenal manager.[LNB]"He was certainly not happy with his performance in the semi-final of the FA Cup, but I believe in him.[LNB]"I have shown many times when I believe in a player that I do not convict him on one game.[LNB]"I believe he will be an outstanding goalkeeper, one of the best."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk