Wojciech Szczesny has admitted his focus was divided during Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the title-deciding El Clasico, with the Polish goalkeeper's thoughts drifting to his former club Arsenal's Premier League encounter against West Ham. While his team-mates prepared for one of world football's greatest rivalries, Szczesny found himself scrutinising VAR replays involving David Raya, Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper, in a moment of distraction that revealed his enduring connection to the Gunners.
Split Focus During Spanish Showdown
Barcelona's triumph clinched the La Liga title, yet Szczesny's pre-match routine proved unconventional. As the Blaugrana dressing room locked in on defeating their eternal rivals, the 36-year-old veteran was monitoring events unfolding in London. When West Ham's potential equaliser was ruled out following a foul on Raya, Szczesny became consumed with determining whether the officials had made the correct call. Speaking to Eleven Sports PL after the match, he candidly explained his unusual preparation: "Before the game everyone was preparing for El Clasico and I'm just trying to find out if Raya was fouled."
The goalkeeper stood firmly in solidarity with his fellow shot-stopper, offering his professional verdict on the controversial decision. "He was fouled," Szczesny stated emphatically. "You're asking a goalkeeper, so… Yeah, that's a foul. They were holding onto his arm and he couldn't jump properly." His willingness to engage with Arsenal's drama while Barcelona pursued Spanish domestic glory underscored the emotional investment Szczesny maintains in Mikel Arteta's project.
Arsenal's Trophy Quest Weighing Heavily
Despite joining Barcelona and helping them secure the league title, Szczesny admitted that watching Arsenal chase multiple trophies is taking an emotional toll. The Gunners remain competitive in both the Premier League title race and the Champions League, and the goalkeeper confessed the pressure of these contests stresses him considerably. When asked about Arsenal's prospects of European success, he became visibly animated: "Don't ask me about that! Don't ask me yet. It's tough [to talk about it, because] right now I'm trying to enjoy my own win, and that other thing… those two trophies left, it's stressing me out quite a bit."
Looking beyond the domestic campaign, Szczesny intends to travel to Budapest for the Champions League final, where Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain. The veteran goalkeeper plans to witness the occasion from the stands, driven by hope that his former side can capture European glory. This commitment to watching Arsenal's continental journey demonstrates that even as Barcelona celebrate their Spanish triumph, Szczesny's heart remains partially invested in the Gunners' pursuit of silverware.
