Szczesny - Austin is a role model

Wojciech Szczesny believes that Charlie Austin’s rise to the Premier League can be an inspiration to young English footballers.

Former bricklayer Austin secured a trial at Swindon Town while playing non-league football after being released by Reading’s youth academy.

Now at Queens Park Rangers, the 25-year-old already has 11 goals in the top tier of English football and will the lead the line in the Boxing Day clash against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

“He’s been brilliant,” Szczesny told Arsenal Player. “I played against him when I was at Brentford on loan and he was at Swindon.

“He was a good player back then but to see someone coming through the lower leagues, into the Premier League and then doing as well as he is at the moment is very good.

“He could be a role model to young English players coming through. I’m delighted to see him doing well but I’m just hoping that his goalscoring form won’t be as good on Friday.

“It is just about the three points but it’s important to collect those at Christmas because teams will be dropping points and if we manage to get a good run it will give us an advantage in a more comfortable position in the table.”