We’ve reached that point in every season where people have convinced themselves there’s just one fix that would sort out Arsenal’s problems.
Instead of focusing on the deep-seated problems which tend to resurface every single year, attention has turned to the position of goalkeeper.
Petr Čech might not be all that, it seems, and it could be time to replace the former Chelsea man with England’s Brave Joe Hart™.
Current running theory is that Čech was sent by Chelsea as a plant, and that positive first 6 months were just to win Arsenal's trust early.
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) February 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/_socoamaretto/status/828012494052552704
Hart is currently doing fine on loan at Torino from Manchester City, and the Daily Mail reports that a £15m bid from Arsenal could be enough to land the player on a permanent basis.
Hart reportedly wants a return to England, Arsenal need a goalkeeper and Pep Guardiola doesn’t care too much for City’s former number one. It’s a win-win-win situation, right?
Well, maybe not.
You see, Arsenal already have a top-quality goalkeeper who many fans would love to see between the sticks.
It’s not Čech, it’s not Emi Martínez, and it’s definitely not David Ospina.
Who else is there, we hear you ask? Oh, just a certain man by the name of Wojciech Szczęsny.
https://twitter.com/nicwenglish/status/829618240594784256
The Polish international is still just 26 years old, three years younger than Hart, and not even a smoke break or an Instagram hacking can diminish him in the eyes of many Gunners fans.
Szczęsny is in the middle of a second successive season on loan at Roma, making the number one jersey his own and helping the Giallorossi challenge at the top of the table.
Second-place Roma have conceded just 21 goals in 23 games so far this season, with their first-choice keeper racking up an impressive 10 clean sheets, including four in his last five appearances.
Best save success in Serie A this term (50+ shots):
Da Costa (81.4%)
Szczesny (80.7%)
Donnarumma (76.5%)
Handanovic (75.6%)
Skorupski (75.6)— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 16, 2017
In contrast, Hart has registered half as many shut-outs as Torino have conceded 33 goals in the same period.
So, is it time for Arsène Wenger to swallow his pride and welcome Szczęsny back to North London? Plenty seem to think so.
We may as well just keep Szczesny as first choice if we want Hart
— JG (@HighburyJoe) February 9, 2017
Joe Hart is an option, sure, but Szczęsny is outperforming him in Serie A and is younger and free. If we're buying I say aim higher
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) February 8, 2017
Wht the actual fuck are we linked with Joe Hart when the best keeper – Wojciech Szczesny – is on loan???
— Senòr Dio (@diokonieczny) February 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MOliverFan/status/827883633490931712
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