After an impressive World Cup, David Ospina left the comfort of Ligue 1 mediocrity for the high pressure of Premiership and Champions League football.
Sadly the dream has turned into a bit of a nightmare, with injuries restricting him to just one start (in the C-OC defeat to Southampton) and a short cameo against Galatasaray when Szczesny got himself sent off with us 4-0 ahead.
The frustrations can only have grown when Szczesny missed a number of games with his own injury, and rather than Ospina grabbing his chance, he had to sit on the sidelines and watch Emiliano Martinez replace the Pole instead.
Now back in full training, Ospina will be looking towards the Hull FA Cup 3rd round tie as his next opportunity to press his claims on our starting spot.
With increased doubts about the qualities of Szczesny, Ospina really needs to give Mr Wenger something to think about.
Ospina is not the tallest of keepers, and it is shot-stopping that catches the eye. Question marks about how he will adapt to the more physical Premier League remain, as his command of his box is not his strength.
In Ligue 1 last season he kept 13 clean sheets in 29 appearances for mid-table Nice, conceding just 25 goals. An impressive record, no doubt.
And that was not a freak season, 2012-13 saw him concede 26 in 26 with another impressive collection of clean sheets (11). In fact, every season from 2009 to 2014, Ospina kept at least 10 clean sheets in Ligue 1 every season.
Of course our own keeper last season, Wojiech Szczesny, won the leagues Golden Glove award for clean sheets.
He also looked decent in Colombia's run to the quarter finals of the World Cup, (although personally I felt a couple of goals were open to some criticism of Ospina) and put in a couple of very good performances.
As said, at around 6ft tall, he isn't the tallest of keepers. But he has great reflexes, and as Hugo Lloris has shown at Spurs, you don't have to be a giant to stop the ball going into the net.
At 26 years old, and with 48 international caps, he has a fair amount of experience. However Szczesny obviously has the PL and CL experience that may shade things for him.
With a Copa America in the summer, Ospina will not want to spend the rest of the season on the bench. This only adds to the rewards on offer for him displacing Szczesny, although being the number 1 keeper at Arsenal is the ultimate prize for Ospina.
So can David Ospina step out from his injury hell, and out of the shadows of Szczesny, and stake a claim for our first choice keeper spot?
Or is he just a back up?
2015 - David Ospina's year?
posted on 18/12/14
So can David Ospina step out from his injury hell, and out of the shadows of Szczesny, and stake a claim for our first choice keeper spot?
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I do hope so. I don't rate Szczesny at all. 2 seasons ago, him and DeGea were almost at the same level.
For some reasons, the United keeper has stepped up massively and he is right now their best players.
Our Pole, on the other hand.....
posted on 18/12/14
Hard work, maybe? Humility? Better coaching staff?
posted on 18/12/14
Viviano (sp) mk 2. He'll be out next summer after 3 cup appearances to his name
posted on 18/12/14
Nothing like Viviano, tbf.
Viviano was only ever cover, hence why it was a loan.
Ospina is an experienced international.
posted on 18/12/14
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 44 minutes ago
Hard work, maybe? Humility? Better coaching staff?
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Maybe humility. When he dropped, he came back improved.