David Ospina
After an impressive World Cup with Columbia, helping them reach the quarter-finals of the competition, Ospina was brought in from French side OGC Nice after the tournament ended, to be part of a very active transfer window for the club.
Ospina was the much needed addition to team after the departure of Lukasz Fabianski to Swansea City, ending a 7 year stint with the club. However, he arrived to Arsenal already carrying a niggling thigh problem, which eventually kept him out of action for the opening months of the season, his only appearance beforehand coming in the loss to Southampton in the Capital One Cup in September.
It was initially assumed that Ospina was brought in to play as the club’s no.2 goalkeeper, as many wouldn’t consider his acquisition as ‘world class’, but not many could argue that any ‘keeper’s desires would be to become no.1.
When the Columbian was fit again, he was ready to rival Szczesny for that no.1 spot in goal, by pouncing on the chances the manager would give him. And it came as early as New Year Day, during Szczesny’s turbulent showing at Southampton.
That game would prove to be the Pole’s downfall, as it was the last league game he started – dropped indefinitely from the squad. We all know what happened, I don’t need to go there again…
So when Arsene Wenger saw this as Ospina’s window of opportunity, his eyes must have gleamed with excitement when he was picked to start the next two games which followed, and then another, and another, until it became clear who was Arsenal’s no.1.
His commanding and convincing performances between the sticks were made evident, with some decisive goalkeeping, providing his defenders with the confidence and assurance that a capable goalkeeper was behind them. Everton at home for example.
As of late though, people have questioned his credentials as a title winning ‘keeper, after failing to keep out two savable goals in recent league games, and those doubts are justified to be fair, but overall he’s adhered himself to the Arsenal faithful, as the most trustworthy ‘keeper of the club.