Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has declared that he is confident of keeping his place as first-choice goalkeeper next season.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been consistently linked with a move for Queens Park Rangers shot-stopper Julio Cesar this summer, but Szczesny has insisted that he would relish a rival for first-team football.

The 23-year-old briefly lost his place to compatriot Lukasz Fabianski last season, but is adamant that his confidence was not shaken by a downturn in form.

He told The Guardian: "Even if the boss was to make a big signing in goal, I would do my very best to compete for the No1 spot. I'd do my best for the club whatever my position.

"The club is in my heart and I wouldn't be thinking about going elsewhere. My head is pretty clear when it comes to that. You have to deal with the competition. I think that the competition from Lukasz [Fabianski] when he was fit [last season] was pretty tough and I enjoyed it. It can only bring the best out of me. My confidence never gets crushed. Whatever happens, my attitude doesn't change.

"I still try my very best in training. I want to make sure I'm in the best shape possible. Whether someone comes in, it's not my decision and it won't affect me in any way. There is the same talk every year and no one has been brought in. I think the manager has shown enough faith in me to make me feel confident in my own abilities. So it doesn't affect me at all."

Szczesny passed 100 appearances for the Gunners last campaign in his third full season at the Emirates Stadium.