Wenger hails ‘world-class’ Ospina after PSG draw

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Paris (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described David Ospina as “world-class” after the Colombian goalkeeper justified his selection in Tuesday’s Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain with several decisive saves.

Ospina was beaten by Edinson Cavani’s header inside the opening minute at the Parc des Princes but foiled the French champions on several other occasions as Alexis Sanchez’s late leveller ensured a 1-1 draw in the Group A opener.

And Ospina’s performance silenced the doubters who questioned why Wenger had chosen to play him in Paris rather than regular number one Petr Cech, who was left on the bench.

“I have two world-class goalkeepers and I know we have enough matches to give both of them games. If you cannot play them you cannot keep world-class goalkeepers who don’t get games,” insisted Wenger.

Arsenal’s wobble in the Champions League at the start of last season, with surprise defeats to both Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos that almost condemned them to an early exit, was partly attributed to Wenger’s decision to play Ospina in goal.

The former Nice custodian made one calamitous error in particular that gifted a goal to the Greeks, but against PSG he rescued the London club with numerous interventions to deny Cavani and Angel Di Maria.

“Ospina was very good and he will have shown tonight for those who doubted him that he is a good goalkeeper,” added Wenger. 

“When he played in the Champions League last season he made an error and everyone came down on him, but he has put things right.”

The question now is, will Ospina keep his place for Arsenal’s next Group A game at home to Swiss side Basel in two weeks, and Wenger hinted that he will.

“We have rules that the ‘keepers know. That’s why it is important to have clear rules from the start, and when that changes I inform them,” said the Frenchman.

“We can always change our minds. It’s down to performances and on what he has delivered tonight he has the right to claim to play in the next Champions League game.”

– Profligate Cavani –

It was far from a vintage Arsenal performance but the draw in what was on paper their trickiest fixture leaves them well placed to win their group, something they have not done in the Champions League in five years.

“PSG were good. They were determined, aggressive, quick on the break, and applied very strong physical pressure,” added Wenger.

“But even in the first half when we put together a few passes we felt we could be dangerous. We created chances in the second half and it is a good point for us.”

From a PSG perspective, their inability to see out the victory was less to do with Ospina than with Cavani’s inability to convert several chances to add to his opener.

The Uruguayan had two spectacular misses in the first half before being denied by the Arsenal ‘keeper in the second half, and Unai Emery’s side have now gone three games without a win.

“I am not happy with the result but I am happy with how we played. We need to play like this in future,” insisted the Spaniard Emery, who refused to be critical of Cavani.

“The most important thing is that he is creating chances for himself. That is positive for the future.”

Quarter-finalists in each of the last four seasons, PSG are next in Champions League action away to Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria in a fortnight.

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Wenger adamant Wilshere has Arsenal future

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London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has insisted that “world-class” Jack Wilshere has a future with Arsenal despite agreeing to the England midfielder’s season-long loan move to Premier League rivals Bournemouth.

The 24-year-old Wilshere had been plagued by ankle problems during recent seasons and his last full game for Arsenal was nearly two years ago — a 2-1 League Cup defeat by Southampton on September 23, 2014.

Despite that, he was still included in England’s squad for this year’s European Championships in France where Roy Hodgson’s men suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of Iceland.

Wilshere made two substitute appearances for Arsenal this season and was dropped from Sam Allardyce’s first squad as England manager.

That led Wilshere and Arsenal manager Wenger to hold a meeting at which it was decided the best thing for his immediate career development was a loan move, with south coast side Bournemouth the club to seal the deal. 

Wenger, asked Friday if Wilshere’s Arsenal career was in jeopardy, replied: “No, not at all, no. He wanted games and I can understand his desire.

“I felt it was a logical decision. Let’s not forget that last year he didn’t play. He’s in a position where you need games. You can’t not compete for two seasons and then want to be at the top level.

“It’s important for him that he gets the number of games this season,” the Frenchman, in charge of north London club Arsenal since 1996, added.

“I think Jack Wilshere is a world-class player. He has a great footballing brain, and understands everything that is going on on the football pitch. He is most dangerous when you give him the ball in the final third.

“We had a chat together and he himself was concerned that he would not get enough competition early enough, because he feels ready to play.

“I couldn’t guarantee that, so that’s why (we took) the decision. I think it looks logical to give him time to really come back to a competitive level. At some stage you need competition and I couldn’t guarantee him that.”

– ‘Competitive level’ –

Wilshere is set to play in his favoured advanced role at Bournemouth, for whom he could make his debut against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, and Wenger said: “For me, it was always a shame when he played too deep and too close to the goal because I like him where he can create. 

The thinking behind the [move] was that he would get regular football and come back to what he is — a world-class football player,” the Frenchman added.

“He’s a world-class player and he doesn’t have to show me that he has the quality to play at Bournemouth, just that he comes back to a regular competitive level.”

Arsenal are at home to another south coast club in Southampton on Saturday, with Wenger considering whether to hand debuts to two recent signings in defender Shkodran Mustafi and forward Lucas Perez

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said when asked if the pair would feature against the Saints in a match where Arsenal will seek a second league victory of the season after taking four points from their first three games. 

“That’s a decision I have to make, and I have to see how everyone comes back and who I will start tomorrow.

“They bring us qualities. Mustafi is a young centre back and already has international experience. Lucas Perez is an interesting striker who is versatile, can play on the flank and especially though the middle.

“He can score goals and can also provide a good number of assists. With the way I like to play, that’s an interesting quality.”

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Wenger Eyes Former United Defender After Mertesacker Injury

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Yes, we’ve reached that part of the summer again, where random transfer rumours circulate on a daily basis.

We’ve had the Tevez to Chelsea gossip lately as the transfer window reaches silly season, but the latest rumour from the conveyor belt links Arsenal with yet another player.

That player is West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans, who is reportedly the £15m target for the Gunners, as they look for defensive reinforcements.

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Arsene Wenger’s side are short at the back, after Per Mertesacker was ruled out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, leaving only Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel as recognised centre backs.

New signing Rob Holding is another who can play there, but given his lack of top flight experience, it’s doutbful that Wenger would want to throw him in on the opening weekend against Liverpool.

Experience is an area where Evans is not lacking. The Northern Ireland international played over 150 times for Manchester United, and won three Premier League titles along the way.

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He only joined West Brom last summer, and was a regular in Tony Pulis’ side last season but is now wanted by Wenger for a massive fee.

£15m is almost three times the price the Baggies paid for Evans last summer, but is seen as an alternative to the likes of Kostas Manolas and Shkodran Mustafi, who have both also been linked with a move to the capital.

Looks like silly season is here to stay…

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