Petr Cech is set to be left out of arguably Arsenal’s biggest game of the season against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, with Arsene Wenger still preparing to keep faith with David Ospina in the Champions League.
Ospina has started every European fixture this season following talks last summer where it was agreed that he would stay at Arsenal but there would be rotation between the Premier League and the Champions League.
Wenger did reserve himself the possibility to change this policy if the circumstances demanded but he is pleased with how Ospina has performed in Europe and is understood to have decided that the 28-year-old should start in Munich this week.
It would still be a gamble given Cech’s vast experience, big-match temperament and solid performance on Saturday against Hull City but his form generally has been less commanding this season.
Opsina started each of the six games as Arsenal remained unbeaten in topping Champions League Group A – as well as their two FA Cup wins – and delivered an especially impressive match-saving performance in the 1-1 draw away at Paris St Germain. He is also expected to start against Sutton United in the FA Cup fifth round next Monday.
Ospina was also selected ahead of Cech at the start of last season’s Champions League campaign but was quickly dropped following defeats against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos. Wenger also has a selection quandary in midfield tomorrow now that Granit Xhaka will return to the squad after missing the last four domestic games following his red card against Burnley.
Arsenal have largely struggled in those games but the central performances of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been one brighter aspect. One solution would be to play Xhaka alongside both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin in the centre, although that would mean sacrificing an attacking player. Mesut Ozil’s dip in form has been of concern recently to Wenger, although he is more likely to be deployed in a wider position than dropped completely.
Wenger has stressed to his team the importance of defensive discipline and ensuring that, unlike recent defeats at this stage of the Champions League, the match is not effectively lost before the second leg.
Bayern only qualified as group runners up and so Arsenal have the advantage of playing the second leg at The Emirates.
Despite a lead in the Bundesliga of seven points, manager Carlo Ancelotti has come in for some criticism of late for a perceived drop in performances following the departure to Manchester City of Pep Guardiola. Bayern, though, have won their last 15 Champions League matches at the Allianz Arena.
“I think defensive discipline is something we have to put back in our minds because it’s something we need desperately,” said Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker.
“If you want to be at the top, you need discipline. We need to focus on that kind of game where we feel good defensively first, and then from there spread out and find out offensive power.”
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