While Luciano Spalletti’s side have reached third in the league with Szczesny in goal, the Poland international hasn’t been as consistent as he would have wanted. He also did nothing to help his case by being caught smoking at the end of last year. His smoking habit was also something that played a part in his departure from Arsenal. With Brazilian goalkeeper 

It’s looking increasingly like that Wojciech Szczesny will return to Arsenal at the end of the season after it emerged that Roma are unlikely to sign the Polish shot-stopper in the summer. Having spent almost five years as the Gunners number one, a combination of a series of disciplinary issues and the arrival of Petr Cech from Chelsea resulted in Arsenal sending the 25-year-old out on loan to Roma. Despite spending the majority of his first season in Serie A as the first-choice keeper, the Italian giants are rumoured to be looking at other options for the end of the season. This has opened up the potential of a return to the Emirates.

While Luciano Spalletti’s side have reached third in the league with Szczesny in goal, the Poland international hasn’t been as consistent as he would have wanted. He also did nothing to help his case by being caught smoking at the end of last year. His smoking habit was also something that played a part in his departure from Arsenal. With Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson expected to sign for Roma from Internacional ahead of next season, Arsene Wenger could be left with a real headache in the summer if the Serie A side do indeed decline the opportunity to make the loan deal permanent.

“Wojciech Szczęsny” (CC BY 2.0) by  RCuerda29 

At 25 and after spending the past six seasons playing regular first-team football, Szczesny won’t be willing to sit on the bench back at the Emirates. But just how keen will Arsenal be to sell a player who they might still view as being the man to replace Cech when the Gunners’ current number-one hangs up his gloves? For all Szczesny’s faults, there is no denying that he is an extremely talented keeper and one more than capable of establishing himself among the world’s best. While Arsenal won’t be looking to replace Cech with the returning Pole, it may be that they attempt to loan him out again in the hope of convincing Szczesny he still has a future in North London. The Arsenal Stats show that Petr Cech has been fantastic since joining the club.

While the Gunners’ season is still very much alive, currently 7/1 with the latest Premier League odds for the title, the club will already have one eye on next year. Cech, who will turn 34 in the summer, still has another three years to go on his contract at the Emirates. But it’s not impossible to envisage a time when the veteran steps aside for a younger keeper in the same way that happened at Chelsea when Thibaut Courtois finally arrived in England. It doesn’t look as though that will happen next season, though, and Szczesny’s return to Arsenal may only be brief, with another loan spell potentially on the horizon. 

There is of course the small matter of Szczesny telling Arsenal he isn’t willing to wait around for his chance to re-establish himself as the club’s number-one. It could be that the Gunners are forced to allow the goalkeeper to leave permanently in the summer. If that’s the case, there won’t be many teams throughout Europe who would not be interested in signing a proven goalkeeper who is still yet to reach his prime.

Arsenal play west ham on the 09/04/2016 and with Petr Cech still searching for full fitness, perhaps Szczesny could have found his way back into the team. We will see if he will get his chance in future.