Szczesny hails Arsenal defence
The Gunners will set out to return to the top of the table when they travel to Aston Villa on tonight.
Since shipping six at Manchester City last month, the Arsenal rearguard have been breached just once, at West Ham on New Year’s Day, to restore their status of holding the best defensive record in the top flight.
Szczesny is scheduled to return between the posts at Villa Park having been rested for the 2-0 FA Cup win over Tottenham nine days ago.
And the 23-year-old Pole, who has kept 14 clean sheets in all competitions, feels there is growing confidence in a back line which has developed into an effective unit — no matter what the personnel.
“I prefer to play behind the same back four because we have got a very good understanding, but you have to give credit to the players that have come in, when everyone does as well as they’ve been doing recently it really doesn’t matter,” Szczesny said.
“As long as the players coming in are in good shape and bring in the same principles into the game, it doesn’t make much difference.
“Hopefully they can maintain that form because the amount of clean sheets we have kept lately has made me very happy.”
Szczesny added: “Clean sheets or something we have always wanted to improve because over the last few years we haven’t been the strongest in the league defensively.
“Last season we improved a lot, but I think now we are showing much more consistency in our defending.”
Tonight’s trip to the Midlands will present an opportunity for the Arsenal players to lay to rest their 3-1 home defeat by Paul Lambert’s men on the opening day of the season which sparked much criticism of the direction Arsenal where heading.
Wenger, though, insisted: “It is not about revenge. The opening day of the season is not Villa’s fault, and what happened after the game is not Villa’s fault.
“We just had to face dissatisfaction from people and our fans, that was completely normal. Villa is just another game. What is always important is the next game and to produce a good performance.”
Meanwhile, opposition boss Paul Lambert has once again emphasised he does not feel immune from the sack, insisting he “never stops worrying” about it.
Villa are on a poor run of form, having won only one and lost five of their last seven games in all competitions.
The midlands outfit’s record at their own ground for the entire campaign to date has been disappointing, with it showing just two victories and six defeats from 10 top-flight fixtures
And last weekend they suffered a 2-1 FA Cup third-round reverse at Villa Park against League One strugglers Sheffield United.
Lambert — under whom Villa finished 15th in the Premier League last season, his first in charge of the club —said after a 1-1 home draw with Swansea in December that although he has a good relationship with his chairman Randy Lerner, he always works with “that fear” of losing his job.
Returning to the theme this week, Lambert said: “I never stop worrying. I’m not immune from it.
“The relationship between me and Randy is what it is. You are never immune from anything, and I would never view it that way.
“You just keep going — there is no secret formula to it. You just keep going and don’t lose focus on what you are trying to do. I will never waver from that.”
Lambert has also been keen to stress how bad a week he has had off the back of the Sheffield United result.
Before the game, he had caused a stir by saying that most fellow top-flight managers would probably prefer to do without the FA Cup.
After the match — for which he fielded a first XI showing only four changes — he claimed that comment had been taken out of context.
And asked ahead of the Arsenal contest how he had been feeling in the days since the cup tie, Lambert said: “The same way I do after every other game (Villa have lost).
“I don’t sleep great, I don’t eat great. The usual stuff.
“It is just the life of a football manager. It is a great job, but you don’t feel great after defeats.”
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