Debate: Can Arsenal Rely On Lukasz Fabianski?

Filling the reserve goalkeeper spot is one of the more awkward positions to take care of within the squad.  Most second choice custodians know that chances will be limited, so most clubs tend to resort to promising, developing goalkeepers who are happy to bide their time, or veteran goalies, who can be trusted to come in and do a safe job in the short-term absence of the first-choice. 

At the Emirates Stadium Arsène Wenger has opted to solve the problem of a lack of first-team football this season for his second-choice keeper Lukasz Fabianski by giving him playing time in both the domestic cup competitions. As a result, the former Legia Warsaw keeper has made 10 appearances this season as un-enforced stand-in for Almunia prior to being needed to cover for his injured colleague last week in Spain against Villarreal and in subsequent matches.

While the extra playing time in comparison to some of the Premiership’s other reserve goalkeepers has been high, his performances in those games, especially last season, when he made a further nine appearances, have given cause for concern. A rather erratic display against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup in December 2007, his third in an Arsenal shirt, caused many pundits to question whether he was of sufficient quality to succeed at the very highest level. 

As with many inexperienced goalkeepers (although just two days off his 24th birthday against Villarreal at the Emirates, Fabianski can hardly be described as a rookie) it’s the decisions about when to come off his line and command the area that cause the most problems. Given that Fabianski had already made over 50 appearances for Legia prior to arriving in London, there could certainly be some cause for concern.  If at nearly 24, and with a half-century of appearances under his belt, he hasn’t got these things worked out, is he ever going to learn?

However, his most recent performances against Villarreal may cause the doubters to begin to revise their opinion of the 13-times capped Polish international. While the Spanish side didn’t threaten Fabianski’s goal often, what he was called upon to do, he did well.  Furthermore, his all-round contribution to a very solid defensive display was noteworthy.  Playing behind a make-shift defence with three of the four regular first-choice players missing, Fabianski gave a calm assurance between the sticks, which evidently permeated the whole of the defence.

More encouragingly yet, he also timed his forays out of goal well, most notably denying a Villarreal chance when the ball was lofted over the top of the Arsenal defence for Giuseppe Rossi to chase. Fabianski was out in an instant to clear the danger away, something he hasn’t always got right.

As the Gunners now look to the cup competitions to make a success of their season, Fabianski can continue to have a major impact on the course of 2008/09. With one of the two major cup games of Arsenal’s season successfully negotiated with Fabianski between the sticks, attention will focus on whether he can handle the pressure at the weekend in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. The Blues are likely to provide a sterner defensive test and may have identified Fabianski as a potential weak link. Last week he failed to deal conclusively with a corner for Wigan’s opener and Chelsea may put some balls into his six-yard box to try and tempt him rashly into flapping at a delivery with Didier Drogba, John Terry et al muscling in on him. 

If Fabianski can cope with that at Wembley, then the Arsenal management and fans will have their answer. He can be relied upon to deputise for Almunia, and he may yet trouble the Spaniard for the number one jersey before the end of the season. 

Wenger has shown with the introduction of Almunia at Jens Lehmann’s expense early last season that he isn’t afraid to throw in a less experienced goalkeeper. If Fabianski can continue with the sort of performance level witnessed against Villarreal and potentially followed up against Chelsea, then Fabianski may get his wish of forcing his way into the Arsenal first-team on a more regular basis. 

Walter Townsend, Goal.com