Arsenal transfer target - I want to play Champions League football

Lewis Doe

10 minutes ago

Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler has admitted that he wants to play Champions League football.

That should put Arsenal on red alert if Arsene Wenger is keen to add the German to his squad to compete alongside Wojciech Szczesny for regular football in the Arsenal first team.

It’s a little confusing as to why the Adler to Arsenal rumours have gathered pace over this season, when Szczesny has been such a consistent player, but if Arsenal do want to add him to their squad they now have a major advantage.

With the World Cup looming next summer and no sign of Adler replacing Manuel Neuer in the German national side, the 28-year-old goalkeeper may see Champions League football as a way to guarantee he at least makes the Germany World Cup squad.


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“HSV is a different challenge. It gives me a tremendous amount of fun here. Leverkusen I grieve afterwards in any way. Of course, I would also like to play in the Champions League,” Adler told German newspaper Bild.

Adler’s current club Hamburg don’t play in European competition, which means Adler avoids the common cup-tied rule which may have prevented him from playing Champions League football with the Gunners.
Despite the recent setback at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal retain a great chance of making it through to the first knock out round.

They have built momentum all season and they showed with a great performance away at Bayern Munich last season, that they are capable of beating any side in Europe in a single match situation.

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The only possible downside to Arsenal doing a deal for Adler is how it reflects on Szczesny.
The Polish star has been one of the club’s consistent players this season and Arsene Wenger will have to be very careful that an approach for Adler, doesn’t leave Szczesny suffering slightly in a mental sense.

However, with Szczesny rewarded in the recent past with a new long term deal, Adler’s arrival shouldn’t be seen as a potential negative but a chance for Arsenal to possess two very talented and top quality goalkeepers who should make each other better.