On-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made his Serie A debut for AS Roma on Saturday, and was disappointed only to draw 1-1 with Verona.

The result will feel better on Sunday evening, as champions Juventus lost their opening game at home to Udinese ahead of a trip to the Italian capital for their next fixture.

Szczesny pulled off an impressive double save for Roma, but know they need better results going forward in order to pull off a title challenge.

“I don’t think it was our best game,” the goalkeeper told the official AS Roma website following the draw on the opening day of the season. “We’re disappointed with the result because we want to challenge for the Scudetto this year and we have to be winning this kind of game.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement but I’m sure it will be better next week.”

Roma struggled to take the initiative until falling behind but, with some good chances created, will be left frustrated as they failed to build on Alessandro Florenzi’s equaliser to take all three points.
“We have to take those chances and, as I said before, win these kinds of games,” Szczesny said.

“I think we created more chances and I’d have been happier with a win but credit to Verona. I think they played a good game defensively. Their goalkeeper had a very good game and they will probably think they deserved it.”

The goalkeeper is clearly enjoying his time in Italy and has already expressed his desire to improve before returning to Arsenal. The year long loan gives Szczesny plenty of time to do that, especially with the Italian giants involved in the Champions League, and he has plenty of time to get to know his defence.

“It keeps getting better. Our understanding is growing with every game,” he said.

“I don’t think we looked too bad defensively today. I enjoy playing with them, we have a good relationship and hopefully we can win things together.”

Hopefully he returns to London having had a successful year in Rome.