Arsene Wenger was clearly not happy with the Arsenal number one at the end of our Premier League defeat away to Man City at the weekend, as he was seen berating Petr Cech at the final whistle. Wenger did not blame the veteran stopper for his part in either of the two City goals but was unhappy about Cech’s decision to play a short pass to Mesut Ozil with just seconds left when a ball into the box was the better option.
That is not the reason why I am suggesting it might be time for Arsenal to give the second choice keeper David Ospina a chance in the league though. I just feel that Cech is not really in top form at the moment and as well as being dropped might just refocus him, I reckon that Ospina’s form in the Champions League has earned him the chance.
The Colombian international will certainly give it his all if he does get the chance, while Cech is perhaps coasting through games. It is nothing specific and I cannot point to any major mistakes that he has made, but along with his failure to get near any of the penalties he faces, Cech has not kept a clean sheet in eight games, the first time in his career that this has happened.
With Coquelin in midfield and a stronger back four than we have seen for years, this failure to keep clean sheets is a real concern. Is it wrong for me to question Cech or do you agree that it is time for the excellent and hungry Ospina to be handed the gloves in an EPL match?
Bob.