Arsenal shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny offered heartbroken Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici some moral support after he gifted the Gunners a place in the FA Cup final with a forgettable howler (via Arsenal Player).
Szczesny reminded many that he knows exactly how Federici feels after he suffered the same fate in Arsenal’s League cup defeat to Birmingham City at Wembley in 2011. At the tender age of just 21, the Polish international was forced to overcome the hurt quickly as the Gunners fought on various fronts.
Fedirici pulled off two impressive saves to keep Reading in the game, one from Aaron Ramsey and another to deny Brazilian defender Gabriel, but his shocker in extra-time dominated the back pages; something Szczesny feels is rather unfair.
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“I’d like to think that he should make the headlines for the saves he made, rather than the one mistake he made,” Szczesny said.
“I thought he was terrific throughout the night and he was the reason the game was so tight, because he made four or five absolutely amazing saves.
“He was solid throughout the 120 minutes. It’s one of those things, I’ve been there and done that in the last minute at Wembley and I know how it feels.”
Szczesny might be slightly relieved that much of the focus is on Federici following his high-profile error which allowed Reading back in the game and his place in the final could now be in doubt.
He did little to inspire in last two FA Cup performances and Arsene Wenger now has a big decision on his hands to risk playing an error-prone goalkeeper in the final.