Udinese Penalty Save My Best Moment, Says Arsenal No.1

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny identified the penalty save he made while playing Italian Serie A club Udinese (in the two sides' Champions League qualifying tie back in August) as the most important moment of his career so far.

With the scores level at 1-1 and the Gunners leading 2-1 on aggregate, Szczesny brilliantly palmed away an Antonio Di Natale spot kick. It proved to be the turning point as the London club went on to win the match 2-1 and progressed to the group stages.

"It was probably the most important moment of my career, the most enjoyable for sure. When you think about it, we could have been out of the Champions League so it was a big moment," Goal.com quoted the Pole as saying.

"We didn't get very far in the competition but we had a good campaign. We enjoyed every single game, well maybe not away at Milan, but I think at the end of my career I will look back at it as one of the biggest moments for me," Szczesny added.

This campaign has been the 22 year old's first as Arsenal's first choice keeper and the player has repaid the faith the club and Arsene Wenger had in him by keeping 17 clean sheets in his 43 appearances so far.

Despite a miscommunication between Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny cost Arsenal dearly in the Carling Cup final against Birmingham City last season the keeper has been largely consistent - with the exception of a small bad patch earlier this year.

"I had a bad spell at the beginning of the year, in January, when we lost three games to Swansea, Fulham and Manchester United - I wasn't at my very best. I can't explain what the reason was; I felt good and worked hard so I guess it was just one of those times when things don't go for you. I had a bad moment but I picked myself up and had a couple of good performances after that and I have been fine since," Szczesny added.

The Pole will be between the poles for Arsenal again on Sunday when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates, in a match crucial for both teams and a couple other clubs as well - Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United to be precise - as all four outfits battle for the remaining two Champions League spots for next season.