Wojciech Szczesny talks to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in this file photo from the 2011 Carling Cup final. Alex Livesey / Getty Images
Wojciech Szczesny talks to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in this file photo from the 2011 Carling Cup final. Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Arsenal’s Szczesny angry at father’s ‘idiotic comments’ before FA Cup final



The Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has become embroiled in a war of words with his own father over controversial comments his parent made about Gunners coach Arsene Wenger and his teammates.

Szczesny is likely to start for Arsenal in the FA Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday despite losing his position as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper to David Ospina earlier this season.

But Wenger has only played the Poland international in cup competitions after catching him smoking in the showers following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day.

Szczesny’s father Maciej, himself a former Poland goalkeeper, accused Wenger of being disloyal towards his son earlier this year and claimed the smoking story was “exaggerated” by the media.

He also said Arsenal’s defence was to blame for a number of goals they have conceded this season and singled out Per Mertesacker as a guilty party, claiming the German defender had “the agility of a rhinoceros” in an interview with Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy.

Those quotes infuriated Szczesny and he published a response on his Facebook page on Friday.

“Really shouldn’t be dealing with this one day before the cup final but my father leaves me no choice,” he wrote.

“I have not spoken to him in more than 2 years and just like everybody else I have had enough of his idiotic comments about the football club and the manager I owe so much to!

“Therefore please do not consider his comments as my shared view. Thank You for your understanding!”

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