Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny says that having Gunners legends Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann surround him as a youth player has inspired the 22 year old to become one of the club's greats.

Szczesny made the move to the Emirates as a youth player in 2006 from Poland, and after moving into the senior side in 2009, the keeper has become an integral part of the squad and had a big hand in saving them from a disastrous season.

And Szczesny insists that the likes of Henry have shown him what it takes to be one of Arsenal's greatest players of all time.

"I think what really made me motivated was seeing all the superstars around the training ground," he told the official Arsenal website. "Back then you had the likes of Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann.

Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczesny has been inspired by Arsenal's greats

"They were some fantastic players to be around and seeing them there every day just made you think that you want to be there around them [on the pitch] one day. It makes you want to work hard.

"I hope that some of the kids in the youth team now are looking at me and thinking 'I want to be his team-mate one day'. It has been a very good journey. "

Szczesny looked back over his move to Arsenal, and insists he doesn't regret coming to the Emirates for a moment, with the Poland international now looking likely to be a future leader at the club.

He recalled: "I think the first time I got scouted by Arsenal was in a game against France [for Poland Under-15s], which we drew 0-0 in and I did quite well. So I was invited on trial when I was 15.

"I loved London from the minute I landed at Heathrow Airport, I thought it was fantastic. I also loved the atmosphere around the training ground and the facilities, it was all just there for me to go on and make a career in football.

"I just thought to myself, 'it's a chance you get once in a lifetime', and so it was quite an easy decision for me to join Arsenal."

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