Lukasz Fabianski’s Arsenal career looks like to be nearing its end, after the club confirmed that he will be out of contention for three months after suffering an ankle injury in training this week.

Fabianski, who will need surgery on his ankle and is likely to be sidelined until the New Year, has failed (through no fault of his own) to make the most of Wojciech Szczesny’s absence from the first team and is now third-choice keeper at the club. Indeed, there appears little hope of Fabianski forcing his way back into contention when he returns after Arsene Wenger’s brief announcement:

“[Fabianksi] will have surgery but Szczesny comes back in two weeks,” Wenger told reporters on Friday, suggesting that the manager has no goalkeeping worries with Vito Mannone proving a solid number two.

Without an appearance this season for Arsenal, and with Szczesny’s return to fitness drawing closer, it is time for Fabianski to find a new club if he is going to make anything of his once-promising career?

When he arrived in 2007, Fabianski told reporters that he was the best goalkeeper in Poland and was a regular number one for Legia Warsaw.  However, his inability to surpass Jens Lehman and Manuel Almunia for a first-team stint on his arrival greatly slowed his progress in England, and Szczesny’s presence has only made things worse. Indeed, Fabianski has made just 27 Premier League appearances since joining the club: almost half the total he made for Legia between 2005 and 2007.

Wenger’s words seem to suggest that Fabianski is not part of Arsenal’s long-term plans and this fresh injury will be of no concern to the Gunners, who have a capable stand-in in Mannone and a top goalkeeper in Szczesny. Fabianski will return to fitness just as the January transfer window opens and do not be surprised if he is out the Emirates door as soon as it does.

Returning to the present: Gooners looking forward to the resumption of the Champions League should be aware that Wenger’s side are 17/20 in the Champions League best prices to overcome Schalke 04 on Wednesday. Schalke have had a pretty good start so far in the Champions League this season, so it should be a pretty interesting contest.

In other news, Straight Talking Gooners is delighted to announce that we will be accepting guest articles from Gooners who wish to voice their opinion about the club. There is no way that we have time to cover every issue regarding Arsenal FC, and it would make a change to have some of our readers to share their thoughts (provided that they are well-written!). Please have a look at our Guest Post page for more information or send us an email.

Full match preview for the Norwich game (with team news and predicted starting XI) will be published later.