Ospina deserves chance too, says rival Cech

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech insists his chief rival David Ospina deserves to play in big matches.

Arsene Wenger was slammed for picking Ospina in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat against Olympiacos, which left the Gunners bottom of Group F and without a point after two matches.

“As a club we are lucky that we have goalkeepers that the manager trusts and then that’s why he chooses for each game, as the season goes,” said Cech who looks set to play against Manchester United tomorrow.

“David played the first game [v Dinamo Zagreb] but we are not told who will play in the competitions. The manager chooses our squad the way he needs. In the first game, David had the chance to play and I think it shows how much the team has confidence in him and how well he trains and prepares every day.

“He deserves to have games, and this is what the manager appreciated from him. So let’s see what happens in the games as we go. We are both preparing for each game and it’s up to the manager to choose for each game.”

The former Chelsea goalkeeper, in his first season at the Emirates, has backed his new team to challenge for the Premier League title. “We have players with experience, and with the motivation to win trophies and we have young players who are very hungry. This team has a really good balance and I believe in our qualities. If we keep progressing in our game, we have a good chance to challenge for the title.”

Cech was speaking on the Sports Illustrated Plant Futbol podcast, which was recorded before the defeat to Olympiacos. He went on to say that his new club is not so different to Chelsea, although once he is on the pitch, the different football philosophies of Wenger and his previous boss Jose Mourinho change his approach to the game.

“Obviously the managers have different mentality and slightly different philosophy of football, and that’s why certain things in a football way are different. But there is not a big difference between Arsenal and Chelsea in terms of the organisation and preparation for players and that helped me settle quickly too.

“I think in the modern game as a goalkeeper, you have to adapt to the way the team plays. If your defence plays very high, you need to have an advanced position so you can sweep. If your team is more about counter-attacking, and sitting deep, then obviously he plays as the team plays. There is a difference between the way Arsenal and Chelsea play, we are more active with the ball, we play higher and there is more space so I have to be higher to compensate the high line.”