Szczesny claims 'disappointing' Arsenal still 'couple of years' away from Champions League but praises boss Mikel Arteta
FORMER Arsenal star Wojciech Szczesny has expressed his disappointment that the club failed to secure Champions League footall.
But the Juventus goalkeeper believes the Gunners are on the right track under boss and ex-team-mate Mikel Arteta.
The North London outfit went into the final three Premier League games of the 2021-22 season four points ahead of rivals Tottenham.
But back-to-back away defeats against Spurs and Newcastle saw Antonio Conte's men leapfrog Arsenal in the table.
And despite Arsenal thrashing Everton 5-1 in their final game of the campaign, Spurs beat Norwich 5-0 at Carrow Road to finish fourth.
But Szczesny, who won two FA Cups alongside Arteta in 2014 and 2015, has insisted it was still a positive term for his old side.
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The Poland international has stated nobody would have expected anything from Arsenal after consecutive eighth-placed finishes.
Quoted by the Metro, the 32-year-old said: "As a fan it was really disappointing.
"They gave it a good go, and nobody would have said before the season started that they had a chance.
"They were still in it with two games of the season left. It’s disappointing but they have actually done a good job this year."
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Szczesny then went on to praise Arteta's philosophy as he backed them to return to Europe's premier competition in the near future.
He added: "I can see Mikel’s idea of football, he has a young team so they will be all right.
"Another couple of years and they will be back in the Champions League.”
It is set to be a busy summer at the Emirates with Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus understood to be closing in on a move.
Meanwhile Arsenal are also hopeful of snapping up Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans in a potential £25million deal.
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