Source: Daily_Mail
Wojciech Szczesny is silver-lining for Arsene Wenger after Old Trafford defeat
Arsene Wenger has predicted a big future for 20-year-old Wojciech Szczesny after he plunged the young Arsenal goalkeeper into the white-hot atmosphere at Manchester United last night.[LNB]Szczesny was given his opportunity despite making only three League Cup appearances previously.[LNB]Although he was beaten by Park Ji-sung's first-half winner as the Gunners crashed 1-0, after a difficult start, the youngster soon got used to his new surroundings.[LNB] Stretching it: Wojciech Szczesny performed far beyond the value of his experience[LNB]One second-half save to deny Anderson was particularly impressive and Szczesny showed enough ability to suggest that he might one day provide an answer to Wenger's long-standing goalkeeping problems.[LNB]'The goalkeeper performed well,' said Wenger. 'He was a bit nervous in his kicking but he didn't make any mistakes with his hands. It was a big game. But in this job you do not look at the size of the game. You look at the quality of the player.[LNB]'Every big goalkeeper started at 18 or 19. I saw (Edwin) Van der Sar play in big games when he was 18.'[LNB]Safe hands: The young Pole could finally be the answer to Arsenal's goalkeeping problem[LNB]It was some consolation for Wenger, who watched his team slip to their fifth defeat of the season after failing to capitalise on a dominance of possession.[LNB]Wenger was gracious enough to praise United's outstanding defensive effort. But he was very critical of the surface his side had to perform on.[LNB]'If I ask you do you want a good pitch or a bad one, what do you say?' he said. 'They made technical mistakes as well because the pitch is not good enough to play good football. It is bouncy and slippery.'[LNB]As United have dropped only two points at home so far this term in their 16-match unbeaten run, it is clearly not inconveniencing them too much.[LNB]However, although his side surrendered top spot and now trail last night's opponents by a couple of points, having played a game more, Wenger is refusing to write his side off just yet.[LNB]'It is a big frustration and disappointment but I don't know how big a blow it is to our title chances,' he said. 'What is important is that we bounce back in our next game. 'Overall, on what I have seen there is no reason not to believe.[LNB]'We know we can play better offensively and actually, we looked quite solid.'[LNB] Bright S-Park! Ji-sung's magic touch takes Manchester United back to the top as Wenger whingesMartin Samuel: Old Trafford defeat proves Arsenal's familiar failings still dog Arsene WengerMan United 1 Arsenal 0: Park swings it as Fergie's men go topPREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0 - the action from Old Trafford as it happenedARSENAL FC
