Wojciech Szczesny has a future at Arsenal despite his impending loan move to Roma, insists manager Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners boss is prepared to allow the 25-year-old goalkeeper to leave on a temporary basis, having signed Petr Cech from rivals Chelsea at the start of the summer.
Wenger confirmed a season-long loan move to Roma is edging closer for Szczesny, who hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last season by reportedly being caught smoking in the showers following defeat at Southampton.
Szczesny was at fault for both goals in that 2-0 loss on New Year's Day and soon lost his place to David Ospina, having had previous form for smoking.
Now he is set to leave the Emirates Stadium - but Wenger wants to see him return and believes a player he has shown faith in for some time can still produce the goods for Arsenal.
"He could go on loan to Roma. We are pretty much done - it is down to paperwork," Wenger confirmed when asked about Szczesny's future.
"As long as that is not over the line, anything can happen. Szczesny is a top-class goalkeeper we have three goalkeepers who are top. For one of the keepers, if he can play somewhere that would be good.
"I believe he will have a future at Arsenal. I personally rate him highly - you do not take a boy and put him in the first team at the age of 20.
"He already has huge experience. I don't want that experience at such a young age to be wasted."