Having been unavailable for the vast majority of Arsenal’s games since his summer arrival from Nice, David Ospina will return to first team action in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The Gunners face Hull City, vanquished in the final back in May, and Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Colombian will start in place of Wojciech Szczesny.
Although it’s not a reaction to the Pole’s performance against Southampton – this decision would have been made already – it’s a chance for Ospina to put some pressure on the club’s under-performing number 1.
The former Nice stopper has made only one start and two appearances in total because of an ongoing thigh injury.
The Arsenal manager said, “He had his first injury at Nice – it was a knee problem and he was a bit rushed back and did not use his leg, so his muscle became weaker.”
As yet fans have yet to see enough to make any real judgement about him. However, if he can provide real competition for Szczesny it will make the goalkeeping situation healthier and, possibly, give Wenger a decision to make ahead of the Stoke game
Excellent timing, Ospina!
You’ve got a great chance of keeping your place if you play well against Hull.
Szcz played very well against West Ham–commanded his area well and nullified West Ham’s biggest attacking threat. How soon we forget. That’s what two calamitous fuckups will do, I guess.
Oh, praise the gods! This will free up Szczesny to play in midfield.
I laughed at this more than I should have…
I then cried a bit too.
I looked quite stupid in front of many people laughing while starring to my screen…
Did I just upvote fat gooners comment?
The world is going mad, thought that was as unlikely as us going through a season with the least amount of injuries…. Hmm bodes well for the future !
I just did it too. Second one in a row. I should probably go buy a lottery ticket now.
I’m not changing, the fanbase is. Everybody’s finally coming around to see my way of thinking.
Aaaaaand back to down-voting.
Oh yeah..like downvoting him somehow affects his life right??
Wrong as usual
Really? I’ve noticed a real shift in the last few months, at the pub, at games, outside the stadium and on here in a lot of fans’ thinking on the managerial situation. I don’t think questioning whether this is the right man for the job is seen as being disloyal as it was a couple of seasons ago. Anyone you asked on here would say they wanted him to stay if we were going to be guaranteed the right results, but it’s been so fucking long since anything was a given with the teams we’re putting out. I think Fatgooner… Read more »
Ospina is a great keeper and just what we need right now.
Being optimist, i hope at worst Ospina at least try to stop shoots that dont go to his body, and not stand there like an statue like szczesny
In the few games I have seen Ospina play, I haven’t witnessed any Almunia moments.
Actually I think we may need to rename ‘Almunia moments’ to ‘Sczcesny moments’.
He rushes out without thinking, he got away with it against West Ham but not against Southampton.
Why does he do it?
I think any goalkeeper will make blunders one time or another, the problem with szczesny is that he does them more often than not. And i Stand by my point that, a lot of shoots that doesnt go to his body he wont try to save them
If Ospina had been in goal instead of Sczcesny, we may have got a completely undeserved draw against Southampton.
I cant remember our last clean sheet. A clean sheet against hull and I would love to see him against stoke. COYG
Martinez had 3 clean sheets in 4 starts. We haven’t had a single clean sheet since then.
Ospina was always going to be picked for this game, Wenger always does it in the FA Cup.
After yesterday’s all time low, I’m now in the ABS camp until Wojciech fulfills his potential. ABS – Anybody But Szczesny
The grass is always greener
And every silver lining has a cloud
Love sczesney. But he’s does make a fair amount of blunders through out the season . Will be good to give ospina a chance . He was one of the best keepers at the world cup . Got him at at the bargain price too . Stick him in between the sticks for a string of games and see what he has to offer !!! On another note Joel cambell needs a start . Another class performer at the world cup yet aint had a look in !! ….. win against #HULL & #STOKE should also bounce us bk after… Read more »
Yes, we might win at home against Hull and Stoke. Everyone will be back supporting Wenger.
Then the following week, we will get our pants pulled down at the Etihad.
# WengerOut
We will show great attitude though so that’s comforting
And mental strength.
But then we will have little bit handbrake niggle
From what i’ve seen of Ospina in the World Cup he can be a top keeper. My only concern is his height. Szczesny is barely able to command his area with his 6’5 (1.95) against teams like Stoke, so how is Ospina going to deal in the most physical league in the world with his 6’0 (1.83)?
What about if he wears heels?
Perhaps it might help. Though i’m not sure it’s recommended, look what happened to Gerrard last season.
In the premier league you need a big commanding keeper. WS has had his chance and has consistently made blunder after blunder. Every keeper makes mistakes but he makes more than most.
I really think we need to get Fraser Forster. I don’t just base this on yesterday’s match. I watched him at Celtic. In the champions league against Barca a couple of years ago he was outstanding. I think we shud get him in the summer. He will have proved himself for a full season in the premier league and can only get better.
Fraser Forster is not a top class keeper. He might be considered okay for an English keeper, but he’s slow to react and poor with his feet.
The big Pole had a good season when the defence in front of him was settled and playing well. Golden gloves or die such accolade. Lay off the lad!
Szsc needs a bit of time out.
Keeper is one area Arsene has addressed well. We have plenty of depth with Ospina and Martinez.
This used to be a weak area for us for at very least, Wenger deserves a bit of credit here.
He’s always injured…..buy Petr Chec and bin him.
It’s not just Szczesny’s obvious blunders – his save rate is appalling.
His save rate is better than 80-90% of all EPL keepers and as good as Courtois
Save rate means nothing because of the wide variance of average shot quality given up by teams.
This isn’t really true. He’s a solid shot-stopper. How many goals has he let in this season that he shouldn’t have? It’s not his fault that the opposition has been scoring from their first shot in half our games with stuff no keeper in the world could save. That is one area of his game you really can’t fault him too much for. He hardly ever lets in a soft goal these days.
Now making a horrible mistake that leads to a goal…that is something he specializes in.
The keeper may not need to make such blunders if the defense did its job. Just saying. Although I admit both goals were mostly Szcz’s fault on Thursday.
Oooooooospina!
The only thing that worries me about Ospina is him only being, truly, 5’11. It’s not everything, but he’s given up 6 inches in height to WS.
He was fabulous at the WC, easily in top 3. Looking forward to seeing him play……. COYG!!!