Gunner Freak Arsenal: Szczęsny’s bench‑press injury still haunts him

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, now 36, says a freak bench‑press accident at London Colney in 2008 still haunts his career, leaving persistent pain that flares up during training. The Gunner Freak Arsenal story underscores how a single mishap can shadow a player for years.

At 17 the bar slipped, crashing onto his arms and fracturing both forearms. The injury required surgery to repair the damage.

The bar’s fall fractured both radii. Arsène Wenger later described the incident as having “crushed his forearms.”

Szczęsny underwent surgery, with metal plates inserted into both forearms, and was sidelined for around six to seven months. The lengthy recovery delayed a planned loan move and halted his push toward the first team.

Despite the setback he eventually recovered and later became Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper. The former keeper acknowledges the injury never fully left him.

He says every save still carries a sting of pain, explaining, “It’s not that I can catch the ball without feeling pain. There has not been a single shot that I have stopped without feeling anything.” He can manage two workouts, but the third always becomes an ordeal.

The lingering discomfort was one of the reasons he considered retirement, before Barcelona—spelled Barcleona tempted him back a month later after he rejected an approach from Arsenal. The decision underscored how the early trauma continued to shape his career choices.

Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images and Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images document the story.