When Arsenal tied Arsene Wenger down to another two-year extension at the end of last season, fans thought the decision pretty weird considering the state of the club, but little did we know this was only the beginning.
Not signing new goalkeeper
On top of selling Woj, Arsenal then seemingly forgot to sign another goalkeeper instead. Therefore, Arsenal only have David Ospina, who can’t even hold a football, and Cech, who is well past his best, available.
Emi Martinez is on loan at Getafe and Matt Macey is at Luton Town.
Both Ospina and Cech’s contracts run out in 2019, and there’s no way either are Arsenal’s long-term solution. However, despite the odd rumour, there doesn’t appear to be anything solid linking the club with a decent replacement for either. Scratch that – ANY replacement for either.
Cech’s 35, so while he might well sign a new short-term deal with the club, as the Telegraph reported last year, there’s no way he can continue as #1. Not after making six errors leading to goals this season – the most in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Ospina could actually be leaving in the summer.
“I am open to everything. Today I give everything for Arsenal, I like to be successful here, but you start to contemplate every alternative depending on each situation,” Ospina said Arsenal lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the League Cup final, reports Goal.
“I still have a contract, but as I say, I always like to have more opportunities, to have more continuity in the squad as every goalkeeper needs.
“Today, I am sharing my position with an excellent goalkeeper in Petr, but he knows that I like to play and I know he likes to keep playing, we have this competition between us, I just like to have continuity, I will think about the future at another moment.
“Today I live day by day, I don’t like to say anything about the future but I will make the most of every each training session and every moment at Arsenal.
“The manager has his reasons for deciding who does or does not get to play..Our position as goalkeepers is a very complicated one because you have less opportunities, in the team there is just one player who plays in that role, and who gets the support. I always try to do my best.
“Mistakes can happen but those mistakes (that the goalkeeper makes) are more visible to everybody, but I keep working, making the most of every opportunity that I have.
“When I speak to Wenger he always tells me that he trusts me. I will keep demonstrating my skills each time I get to play, in every training session, and I will keep waiting for my opportunity that I have been waiting for, and I will make the most of it, as I did in my first year at Arsenal.
“As I always say; for me to be part of Arsenal was and is a dream come true. When I used to think about it, it seemed so far away. I was able to materialise it and that’s why I like to do my best, to be outstanding at Arsenal.”
The Colombian made these comments after the January window had shut but still, considering he was heavily rumoured to be moving last summer as well, you would think some preparation would have already been made.
As much as I love that Wenger gives no effs about splurging cash on top attacking players, it would be nice if a few pennies could be thrown towards other positions the team actually needed strengthening in.