Szczesny’s place could be in danger as Arsenal target El Guzano

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Aston Villa’s 29-year-old goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The American has been in fine form for Aston Villa over the last 18 months and The Mirror are linking the Gunners with a January move for him.

Guzan has been in fine form, but so has Arsenal’s current keeper Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal opted to sign Emiliano Viviano in a loan deal on deadline day, after being linked to the likes of Julio Cesar and Asmir Begovic. Now they are being linked to an option more closer to home in Guzan, but would he improve Arsenal’s starting eleven? We take a look at the stats.

An area where Szczesny excels and Guzan falls down is distribution. This season, Szczesny has an impressive 71% success rate whilst Guzan comes in at just 57%. One massive difference is in the goalkeepers’ distribution from goal kicks. 67% of Szczesny’s met an Arsenal player, whilst just 17% of Guzan reached successfully reached a Villa man. Both keepers have played every minute of their clubs Premier League games so far, and Szczesny has also managed four more saves (18). Both keepers have conceded eight goals in seven games.

Whilst Szczesny edges Guzan in the stats so far this season, the American made more saves last season. Szczesny has impressed in spells over the last few seasons, but adding someone of Guzan’s reliability and Premier League experience would provide him with good competition and arguably get the best out of the 23-year-old Polish keeper. With 23 caps for the United States, Guzan also brings a wealth of international experience, and at 29, still has a lot of his career ahead of him.

Szczesny will hope he can do enough this season to convince Arsene Wenger that the club doesn’t need to look for a new first choice-keeper. But with Fabianski’s contract expiring at the end of the season and third choice Emiliano Viviano only on loan, Arsenal are likely to be in the market for experienced competition for Szczesny, and Guzan ticks all the boxes. However it is unlikely Guzan would move unless he was given first-team assurances.

Football graphics and stats from Squawka.