Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny reveals Arsene Wenger talk prior to AS Roma loan move

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed Arsene Wenger's influence in him opting to join AS Roma on a season-long loan deal.

The Polish stopper completed his temporary switch on Wednesday, 29 July to the Serie A club after falling down the pecking order at the north London club following the arrival of Petr Cech from Chelsea.

Szczesny started last season as the Gunners' number one, but failure to perform consistently at a high level and an off field controversy with regards to the player smoking following a game, led to him being axed from the starting XI.

The Polish international, who has been with Arsenal since 2006, came up through the youth ranks at the club, before making his debut in the League Cup in 2009.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper, who will now compete with Italian veteran Morgan de Sanctis for a place in the first team, insists that he is looking forward to helping Roma challenge for trophies on all fronts.

"It was a no-brainer for me. Once the offer from Roma came in, I spoke to Arsene Wenger and he told me it would be a fantastic move for me to join Roma and play in the Champions League, fight for the Serie A title and try and improve the squad," Szczesny told Roma's official site.

"I then spoke to Walter Sabatini and made my decision very quickly. I think it's a great opportunity for me to gain valuable experience as a young goalkeeper but also to try and help the team."

The Polish international has admitted that he is looking forward to playing under Rudi Garcia, and revealed that Wenger and Gunners teammate Mathieu Debuchy gave him a low down on the quality of the Frenchman.

"Arsene Wenger told me that Rudi Garcia is a very good manager. I also have Mathieu Debuchy, who played for Rudi Garcia at Lille, and he had some good things to say about him as well. I'm excited – as I said, I'm trying to gain experience every day from everyone I meet, every new coach," he added.

"I'm looking forward to working with him and with the goalkeeping coach and trying to become a better goalkeeper and a better person."