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Wojciech Szczesny hopes Arsene Wenger ignores lure of England job

Wojciech Szczesny hopes Wenger will stay with Arsenal.
Image: Wojciech Szczesny hopes Arsene Wenger will stay with Arsenal.

Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny says Arsene Wenger 'would be great for England', but hopes the Frenchman remains at Arsenal.

Szczesny made just one appearance for his country at Euro 2016 after failing to recover from a thigh injury picked up during their opening match against Northern Ireland.

Speaking after his side's penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal in the quarter-finals, he said: "I am sure he would be a great thing for England but my main interest is Arsenal and I hope it doesn't happen, for the sake of Arsenal not for the sake of England.

"England had a disappointing Euro 2016 and changes will be made but, hopefully, that will not affect our club. I hope it is something that will not happen because he is doing a fantastic job at Arsenal and I'd love to see him stay there."

Szczesny spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Roma and despite uncertainty of his immediate future, he admits he remains an Arsenal fan.

"I really don't know. Now I have time to relax and think about my future," he said.

Wenger, Southgate, Klinsmann... who next for England?
Image: Wenger (left) linked with England job along with Gareth Southgate and Jurgen Klinsmann

"We love the Premier League, the competitiveness, so we can't complain about it. Leicester fully deserved the title in what was an amazing story. Maybe it was a missed opportunity for Arsenal but they had a good go and came close. 

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"It was disappointing for me to see as a fan but with the new signing Granit Xhaka and possibly one or two more, we can compete again.

"People have been saying for 20‑odd years that our place in the top four is under threat and we keep finishing there. But I don't think that should be the goal for Arsenal. We should be aiming to win titles and I see a big opportunity next season."

Former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman has also played down suggestions Wenger would be eager to take on a role as national team coach.

"I would be very surprised if Arsene took that job," he told Sky Sports

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 22:  EM 1996 in ENGLAND, London; SPANIEN - ENGLAND (ESP - ENG) 2:4
Image: Seaman is not convinced his former Arsenal boss would be keen on the England job

"I think that might be a little too much pressure for him. He is getting on a bit and hopefully he will just step upstairs at Arsenal when he is ready."

Seaman, who played at Euro 96 and also in two World Cup final tournaments, does not believe the FA would necessarily look to make another overseas appointment, despite the perceived lack of  English coaches ready to take on the role.

He added: "We have tried that before with Sven (Goran Eriksson) and others, it is just hard. When you look at English managers that are out there, there is not a great deal to choose from.

"But it is the same old thing, we never seem to keep an England manager for very long."

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