Arsène Wenger surprised fans by keeping Petr Čech on the bench last week and trusting David Ospina in the 3-3 draw at Upton Park.
If there’s anything the Colombian really lacks compared to the Czech Republic legend it’s presence and Arsenal paid dearly, conceding three goals from crosses into the box as West Ham dominated the aerial battles.
Though the defenders were to blame, a more commanding goalkeeper may have taken the task of stopping the danger into his own hands.
Nonetheless, Wenger says he is still undecided on whether or not Čech will reclaim his place when Crystal Palace visit this weekend.
“I have not decided that and when it is decided I will have to inform [the goalkeepers] first,” the Arsenal boss said in a press conference on Friday morning before confirming that Petr Čech is still first choice.
“Petr Čech is our number one but also, Ospina is a fantastic keeper. You look at his numbers, they are absolutely exceptional in the Premier League.”
So why did Ospina play last weekend?
“I felt that Petr Čech was just training for one week and just coming back.”
Well, that’s a little revisionist. Last weekend, Wenger admitted that Čech could have played but Ospina’s recent performances had warranted another start. Our number one had been in training for over a week, having sat on the bench for our defeat of Watford a week earlier, so was he really unprepared for the game?
Regardless, you have to imagine we’ll see the 33-year-old back between the posts again this weekend and not behind them, where Ospina tends to stand.