Fabianski ready to take cup chance

20 September 2010 15:30
ukasz Fabianski plans to use Tuesday's Carling Cup third-round clash at Tottenham to show he has what it takes to be Arsenal's number one.[LNB] The 25-year-old - harshly nicknamed 'Flappyhandski' by some supporters - is determined to win over the critics, and with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger set to shuffle things around for the short trip across north London, the Poland international could well be set to feature between the posts at White Hart Lane.[LNB]Fabianski has stood in for Manuel Almunia at all levels since arriving from Legia Warsaw during May 2007.[LNB]Despite a number of high-profile errors - including in the 2009 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on a birthday to forget at Wembley and also in the Champions League away to Porto last season - the young Pole continues to keep the faith of his manager.[LNB]Fabianski has every intention to battle on and one day claim the Arsenal jersey for his own.[LNB]"My target is to challenge for a place in the first team. I am going to try to use every chance to be the number one keeper," Fabianski told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"The Tottenham game in the Carling Cup is the earliest one to play for me, and I just want to show my best, to show the boss I am able to play as the first goalkeeper."[LNB]Both the position of Almunia and Fabianski came into question during the summer, when Arsenal had two bids for Fulham's veteran Australian international Mark Schwarzer rejected.[LNB]Wenger believes his keepers have shown great mental strength during a summer of speculation.[LNB]Fabianski, though, maintains for him, such gossip is never an issue.[LNB]"We do not have to talk about the transfer window. If you are at Arsenal, there are always going to be plenty of talk about who is coming. It is massive club," he said.[LNB]"I was always focused on doing my job well, working really hard and I did not care about the speculation."[LNB]Fabianski was in goal when Spurs ran out 5-1 winners in their Carling Cup semi-final second leg during January 2008.[LNB]However, the Pole maintains while revenge may be an issue for supporters, settling old scores are far from his agenda.[LNB]"I always treat every game in the same way, so there is really no big difference from me in preparations, but of course I can understand for the supporters it is a massive game," he said.[LNB]"It will be a very exciting match to play in, but I am going to treat it as another chance to prove myself."[LNB]Arsenal are already without the likes of Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner because of injury, while captain Cesc Fabregas is to be assessed after suffering a hamstring problem in the course of scoring a freak goal at Sunderland on Saturday, where Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Barclays Premier League table after conceding an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Alex Song is suspended after his sending off.[LNB]However, it is unlikely any of those senior men would have featured in the Carling Cup, even against the Gunners' fiercest rivals.[LNB]Instead, Wenger will again give some of his fringe and younger players the chance to impress - which could mean starts for the likes of 19-year-old forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, while reserve striker Benik Afobe, 17, and England Under-17 midfielder Chuks Aneke may also be drafted in.[LNB]Swiss international Johan Djourou, just back from a long-term knee injury, Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson and Carlos Vela should add the experience.[LNB]Whatever side Wenger picks, though, it will be one he is confident will be up for the challenge.[LNB]"This game comes between two Champions League matches, so there will be a lot of demands on your energy and competitiveness," he said.[LNB]"However, we will stick with our policy - that means the first target is to qualify, we will have a team which will have a good chance to qualify, the second is to give games to those who need them and the third is to see if we can use some of our young players."[LNB]Mexican striker Vela has so far come off the bench to great effect, scoring a late double against Braga to add to his goal in the 4-1 win over Bolton.[LNB]Wenger said: "Vela is an outstanding finisher who worked very hard this summer and he continues to improve."

Source: Team_Talk