Petr Cech: Arsenal fans not happy as Arsene Wenger continues with David Ospina

Cech is fully fit but Arsene Wenger has not changed his team

Tom Sheen
Saturday 09 April 2016 12:12 BST
Comments
Petr Cech remains on the bench for the Gunners
Petr Cech remains on the bench for the Gunners (2016 Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Arsene Wenger elected to continue with David Ospina in goal despite Arsenal No 1 Petr Cech being fully fit.

Cech, Arsenal's only signing last summer, was also on the bench against Watford last week as the Gunners won 4-0 but was not fit enough to start after a calf problem.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper has taken part in full training this week and was expected to return to the starting line-up after an impressive first season in north London.

However, much to the anger of Arsenal supporters on social media, Wenger opted to name an unchanged Xi for the vital game against West Ham United, keeping Cech on the bench and continuing with the Colombian.

Ospina will start his 12th game of the season, but only four of those have come in the Premier League.

He has kept only four clean sheets in the matches he has played, with Arsenal posting a record of five wins, two draws and four defeats in the games he's played, conceding 13 goals.

Here is some reaction to the news:

Arsenal had lead 2-0 in the first-half at Upton Park through Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez and looked very comfortable.

However, former England striker Andy Carroll scored two goals in three minutes just before half-time to make it 2-2.

Neither goal was really Ospina's fault, although both goals came from crosses intot he box that, perhaps, the more commanding Cech may have dealt with better.

Carroll's first was a bullet header from an Aaron Creswell cross, while the former Newcastle United and Liverpool striker scored a brilliant scissor-kick to equalise.

More follows

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in