Wojciech Szczesny loan: Arsenal goalkeeper to return after AS Roma reject permanent deal

Wojciech Szczesny is set to return to Arsenal at the end of the season following the end of his season-long loan spell with AS Roma following the Serie A outfit's decision not to sign him on a permanent basis. The goalkeeper has featured quite regularly under Luciano Spalletti for the Italians this season, and will be keen to impress before the end of the campaign as he battles for the number one role with the Poland national team ahead of the European Championships in France in June this year.

According to the Independent, the Italian capital club have decided not to sign the stopper on a permanent basis after wrapping up a deal to sign long-term target Alisson, from Brazilian club Internacional. This will see Szczesny return to the Emirates Stadium in the summer to fight for a place in the first-team alongside Petr Cech and David Ospina.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper fell out of favour at his parent club midway through last season, when he was caught smoking in the showers following Arsenal's loss to Southampton on New Year's day. He failed to make a single appearance in the Premier League since the infringement, but held on to his place in the cup squad as the Gunners secured their 12<sup>th FA Cup triumph.

Szczesny is unlikely to displace Cech as the Arsenal number one in the upcoming season, and will have to contend for the number two position with Ospina, who is likely to push for a move away from the club owing to his lack of regular football this season. Arsene Wenger has made it clear that the Poland international has a future at the club.

"I believe he will have a future at Arsenal because I personally rate him highly. I put him in the first team at the age of 20 and he already has huge experience. I don't want that experience he got when he was very young to be wasted and that is why I gave him the opportunity," Wenger said, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.