Are Swansea in safe hands with Monk after Fabianski signing?

Garry Monk, in what could be seen as a significant show of flexing his managerial muscles has snapped up Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. As a result, they are 5/1 to be relegated next term.

The 29-year-old Polish international arrives at the Liberty Stadium as an FA Cup winner, after Arsenal finally ended their trophy drought against Hull City. To say he was a stand-out performer in the match is perhaps pushing it. His inability to move his feet quickly enough for Hull’s second goal and instead try to pull off the spectacular seemed to end Arsenal’s hopes of winning.

It seems, by all accounts, such an unlikely pairing, and certainly one from left-field. After spending the best part of his career in north London playing second fiddle to the likes of Jens Lehmann, Manuel Almunia and more recently Wojciech Szczesny, it is improbable that he will be heading to Wales to do the same.

There could well be a reshuffle in the ranks at Swansea this summer, and time will tell as to how much of a draw Monk actually is. Under Michael Laudrup, the club were an attractive draw. Under their current manager, well…

No doubt Fabianski has been waiting to be rescued from north London for quite a few years. When Arsene Wenger brought him to Arsenal, at the age of 22 much was promised about his potential. Although goalkeepers don’t really peak until their 30’s, by that logic Monk shouldn’t expect much from his first signing for at least another year. To be fair to Fabianski, it does give him a whole decade. Those relegation odds are beginning to look enticing.

First choice custodian Michel Vorm has recently been attracting the interest of Liverpool and these rumours will only intensify now Fabianski has signed. With the future of captain Ashley Williams also in doubt, Monk’s biggest test will be trying to keep the stars he already has, rather than the ones he’ll struggle to attract.