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Szczesny - Maturity is key at top level

Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczesny

Wojciech Szczesny believes his commanding form this season is a result of his increasing comfort at the highest level.

The Poland international has played a key role in Arsenal’s rise to the top of the Premier League table and their Champions League group.

The 23-year-old briefly lost his place in the team last season but he feels the only difference between then and now is his mental approach.

"I’m still learning, I’m not saying I have it spot on but everything seems to be going well for me and I want to keep it going"

Wojciech Szczesny

“Physically there is not much difference,” Szczesny told Arsenal.com. “You try to put in an extra 10 per cent in training, but if you ask me I would say I was just as fine then as I am now.

“It was just that you concede a few goals that you could have done better with, people get on your back and it all seems to happen against you. It is like in Fifa when you are losing 3-0 and then all of a sudden your friend kills you 7-0 - it is one of those things!

“I wouldn’t say that physically a lot has changed, and it is not an excuse but I feel I have been a bit luckier since then.

“It comes down to maturity. The older you get, the more games you play and you know how to deal with things, you know how to prepare for things. It is not only about being professional, it is also about being relaxed and you don’t feel that when you have played 10 or 15 games at the top level.

“You start to feel that when you get your personal life in place and you know when to work hard, when to relax or when to have a laugh. I’m still learning, I’m not saying I have it spot on but everything seems to be going well for me and I want to keep it going.”