Arsene Wenger is cutting his nose off to spite his face
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Arsene Wenger does not even regard it as an issue.
When the question was posed at the pre-match press conference about who will play in goal, Wenger dismissed it and insisted he had nothing to hide and that David Ospina would face Bayern Munich.
“It will be Ospina because of the quality of his performances and if you are today in the last 16, we finished top of the group,” said Wenger.
“If you analyse well his performances in every single game, we are where we are basically down to his great performances.”
But from the moment that Ospina playing ahead of Petr Cech became a story on the back page of Tuesday’s Daily Mirror, it is a big talking point.
(Photo: David Price)
(Photo: Stuart MacFarlane)
Why? Because Cech is the only Champions League winner in Arsenal’s squad. He is experienced, a world class keeper and a big character in the dressing room.
Arsenal signed him 18 months ago for the big games and now, as Wenger approaches the biggest game of the season, he has picked his No2 in goal.
The funny thing is that when I tweeted the story, a lot of fans on Twitter were asking what the big deal is. Well, it’s a story because it’s a talking point and unusual for any top club to play one keeper in the league and another in the Champions League.
Barcelona have done it. But who else? In fairness, Ospina has done well when called upon. Last season, he started the Group stages, had a nightmare against Olympiacos and then Cech was brought back in.
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Cech was heroic against Bayern at the Emirates last season and, in my mind, fills the goal. Cech is listed as 6ft 5in while Ospina is 6ft.
When they were pictured the other day in training, they actually look similar height. But it is all about presence. Cech looks huge, Ospina looks small in my eyes.
Cech was excellent against Hull, good saves and a calm presence under big pressure.
No-one is denying that Ospina is a good keeper. He is Colombia’s keeper, has had some good games but if he’s that good, why not play him in the Premier League?
(Photo: Getty Images)
(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
The answer is obvious: Cech is still better. And if there is a clear distinction between the two, it is incredible, absolutely incredible, not to play your first choice against Bayern and their attacking might.
One of the greatest nights of Cech’s career came in Munich in 2012 when his heroics in the game and penalty shoot-out won Chelsea the trophy against Bayern.
Cech has a reputation, an authority and gives his defence a confidence which makes them look more secure.
This is not a social club, not taking it in turns, this is the Champions League and it is unthinkable that Wenger is playing Ospina out of some sort of debt of loyalty.
Wenger’s loyalty to his players is very admirable. Sometimes to a fault. For example, he did not sign N’Golo Kante for a few reasons but one of them was that he thought it would block Francis Coquelin’s progress. Well, Coquelin is not bigger than Arsenal.
Similarly, to pick Ospina ahead of Cech just because he’s told Ospina he would play in the Champions League is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I still think Cech is a top class keeper and picking Ospina also invites criticism and turns up the pressure. Fair enough in the group games but in the serious business, it’s a bizarre decision.