Fabianski delighted to bounce back

ARSENAL goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski believes the experience he is gaining from being a regular first-team player is helping him cope with the kind of error he made against Newcastle.

Fabianski came in for plenty of criticism after Andy Carroll’s goal doomed the Gunners to a shock weekend defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

But he put the blunder behind him to earn Arsenal a vital 2-0 win at Wolves on Wednesday night. The 25-year-old made a stunning save from Wolves defender Christophe Berra in the closing seconds when only one goal divided the sides before Marouane Chamakh netted his second.

Fabianski said: “To be honest, I have played for some time and have not been looking bad in goal.

“I was not happy with what happened against Newcastle but overall I have still felt in good shape. I was not thinking about ‘bouncing back from Newcastle’ and was only focused on having a good game here and helping the team.

“I think I’m getting experience which is really important for a keeper and that experience is helping me to prepare for another game.’’

Berra’s low shot flew through a ruck of players and looked destined for the equaliser before Fabianski’s razor-sharp reactions and he was mobbed by his team-mates after the game.

He said: “It was important and was pretty difficult. I saw it at the last second, I just reacted to the ball and saved it and was very happy to get the team three points.”

Arsenal’s third away win of the campaign kept them in touching distance of the leaders although they had to survive a battering from Mick McCarthy’s side before triumphing.

Fabianski said: “The win says a lot about our spirit and focus on the game. We knew we had to win and come back stronger.’’

Meanwhile, Wojciech Szczesny, one of Fabianski’s challengers for the number one jersey, has signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners.

The 20-year old has been with the Gunners since August 2007, and spent last season on loan at League One side Brentford.

Szczesny, out of contract in the summer, had suggested he would look elsewhere for first-team football, but yesterday the 6ft 5in Pole committed his future to the Gunners.

Szczesny impressed in the recent 4-0 Carling Cup win at Newcastle and manager Arsene Wenger believes the 20-year-old is a great prospect.

“We are delighted to secure the long-term future of Wojciech, who we regard as a very important part of our club’s future,” Wenger said.

“We have all seen his huge potential, so we look forward to seeing him develop further in the coming years.”

Szczesny maintains it was an “easy” decision to sign on again with the Gunners. “It’s a great feeling to sign a new contract with Arsenal and I’m so pleased,” he said.

Meanwhile Wenger revealed there were no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s trip to Goodison Park, where England full-back Kieran Gibbs could be involved after a knee problem.