Joe Hart still one of the world's top keepers despite Manchester City axe says Arsenal pal Wojciech Szczesny

England's No.1 has been "the most consistent and one of the best if not THE best – and I am sure he will prove that"

Form is temporary... Szczesny expects Hart to show his class

Rex

Wojciech Szczesny has given Joe Hart a huge vote of confidence by claiming the off-form England star is STILL the best goalkeeper in the world.
Arsenal counterpart Szczesny’s resounding support will surely come as a welcome boost for the under-fire Manchester City keeper.

Hart has lost his place in the City side after a string of high-profile errors, setting the alarm bells ringing as the Three Lions prepare for next summer’s World Cup finals.
But Szczesny, who is pals with Hart and speaks to him regularly, says the 26-year-old is so good it is “scary” and believes he will come through the biggest test of his career.


Szczesny, 23, was dropped himself by the Gunners last season, but has come back strongly this term.
His form has earned him a big-money new deal at Arsenal, and the Polish international is convinced Hart will enjoy a similar revival with Manchester's Blues.

“I personally rate him as one of the best, if not the best, goalkeepers in the world,” said Szczesny. “Age has this thing where you are not as consistent as an older goalkeeper [is].
“You look at Petr Cech and he has been amazingly consistent over the last four or five years, but at 25 you don’t have that. So it makes it more exciting.

“Forget the last couple of weeks where it has been very difficult for him and he has been dropped. I suppose everybody has got to go through that.
“Over the last couple of years he was the most consistent and one of the best – it is hard to say the best – goalkeepers in the world and I am sure that he will prove that to people even though he has had some difficult times.”

Szczesny went through the same difficult period last season when he was axed in March after Arsenal lost at Tottenham.
It was a massive test for Szczesny as Arsenal began a winning run and there appeared no way back until injury to his deputy Lukasz Fabianski opened the door to a return.

Sub standard: Joe Hart watches from the bench as City lose to Sunderland

PA

 Szczesny then had to endure a summer of Arsenal looking for another keeper and there were doubts over whether he would keep his place as first choice at the Emirates.

But Szczesny believes being axed refocused his mind and says that it taught him a painful yet valuable lesson which he believes Hart will also get from losing his place to No2 Costel Pantilimon at City.

Szczesny said: “You have got time to sort things out. A lot of aspects come into the game of the top goalkeepers.
“You can become too professional, if you like, you get too serious about things and try too much and that can backfire so it is very important to relax and maybe have a bit of time away from the pressure, getting the right mindset and it seems to be working.

“I definitely hope Joe will do the same and if he comes back stronger than he was before then it is scary to think how good he is going to be.”
Szczesny has been outstanding for Arsenal this season and only Robin van Persie beat him at Manchester United on Sunday to knock their title challenge.

The Polish keeper took a heavy blow to his nose in a clash with Phil Jones but Szczesny did not lose consciousness which is why he was allowed to play on and join up with the national squad.
Just as refreshingly is the bond between the Premier League’s young generation of keepers.
While Szczesny clearly gives a big nod in the direction of Chelsea keeper Cech, there is also respect for the younger No1s like Hart, David De Gea and Simon Mignolet.

Szczesny, who shares the same agent as Hart, says it is a change in mentality throughout the Premier League and now, whereas keepers were supposed to reach their peak in their 30s, the 20-somethings are ruling the roost.

 Szczesny added: “I think it makes it more exciting because you know the younger goalkeepers even when they are very good at the age they are, they are still going to have ups and downs and you have seen with Joe Hart recently.

“But I always support all the young players in the Premier League, especially the goalkeepers.
“It is always good to have a bit of banter with them at the end of the game rather than just going up to someone and thinking, ‘Do I call you 'Sir'? - I dunno…’

“So it is fun with all the young goalkeepers and they have all been doing really well.
“Mignolet, I thought, was the goalkeeper of the season last year. De Gea won it. Joe Hart I rate as one of the best in the world.”