The Rise and Rise of Wojciech Sczcesny

After the nailbiting and ultimately euphoric win over Udinese earlier this evening, there are many things Arsenal fans and detractors alike could focus on. I want to focus on just one of them, the continued emergence of Wojciech Sczcesny.

It's been clear ever since the hype over Sczcesny in the youth team and his time at Brentford that he was always likely to be something special, and he acquitted himself very well in his first spell in the first team last season. He made the odd mistake but that was understandable and forgivable with the quality he was showing - young players will always make the odd mistake it is the only way they will learn.

A flying Sczcesny in action. Photo credit thisislondon.co.uk

Though it is only early in the season, Wojciech seems to have taken another step up already from last season. He has always spoken well in interviews and his belief in himself is very apparent. Unlike Nicklas Bendtner, who has self confidence of several levels even above Sczcesny, Wojciech has been backing up his self confidence with increasing maturity and making important contributions to every game so far this season. He was solid against Newcastle and was very good against Liverpool even in defeat. Arsene Wenger's decision to make him the defacto Arsenal no1 - even if he is wearing no13 is paying dividends.

Tonight however was something else. In addition to being generally solid and making a free kick save that left the excellent Di Natale smiling ruefully as if to say "how did you save that" there was THE penalty save. A mindbogglingly outstanding save that is possibly the most important penalty save since David Seaman's in the cup winners cup against Sampdoria 15+ years ago (though the Jens Lehmann save against Villareal must not be forgotten). It even had ITV verbally w**king over it which really tells you something. Along with a certain Jack Wilshere, Sczcesny is a fine example of the world class potential coming out of our youth team which is being realised. Long may his rapid development and rise continue.