Arsene Wenger has hinted that goalkeeper David Ospina will keep his Arsenal place for the remainder of the Champions League ties. The Colombian was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up last night, but went on to be the stand-out performer in the Gunners side, making a number of decisive saves to deny their hosts.
We could easily have come out of the match beaten, but Ospina kept us in the game, and thanks to an equalising goal from Alexis Sanchez, we managed to secure an important point away from home.
It was not a flawless performance by the 28 year-old, as Edinson Cavani was able to get the better of him in the opening minute of the game, but he was not solely at fault for the goal, and he certainly made up for it in what followed.
Arsene Wenger has now hinted that his second-choice keeper could be set to keep his first-team slot for the upcoming group games, after praising his performance, before also claiming that both of his goalkeepers were World Class.
He said: “It’s a good point for us. David Ospina did play very well. Tonight he showed his detractors that he is a very good goalkeeper, those who doubted him.
“Last year he made a mistake in the Champions League and everyone jumped all over him. He showed what he’s about tonight.
“I have two world-class goalkeepers.I can give them both games. If they do not play, you can’t keep two world-class goalkeepers.”
“We have a rule that the keepers know (when they will play),” he added. “It’s important to have clear rules like that.
“They know what the rules are for the season. If they change, I’ll tell them.”
Asked if Ospina will only feature in Europe, Wenger replied: “I’ll not answer that question. It’s down to performances.
“On what he delivered tonight, he has the right to stay in the team for the next Champions League game.”
Can Ospina challenge Cech for his first-team spot? Was the Colombian convinced to stay at the club with the promise of Champions League football as a minimum?
Pat J