Arsenal will take on Olympiacos in the second game of Champions League action without goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Aaron Ramsey, according to Bleacher Report.
Manager Arsene Wenger told the media this week he plans to rest Cech and Ramsey for the match, in order to give other players on the team a chance to showcase their talents. Starting in goal would be Columbian goalkeeper, Ospina.
"What I just want to say, it was not because I have decided Ospina [always] plays in the Champions League. It will go game by game and there can be a different decision. I need to give him [Ospina] games and I think he is a top-level goalkeeper, but that doesn't mean that he will play. That's our job, our job is about selection and competing with other players," stated Wenger when speaking to the Mirror.
"I think he [Ospina] does that extremely well. I am fortunate to have two keepers of this quality. He is much younger than Petr Cech, he will get games at the top level, don't worry. I am looking at him (Ramsey), yes. I have to see how Coquelin is. I wait for feedback from the medical people," he added.
There are reports floating around that Wenger promised Ospina playing time if he stayed with the club instead of leaving over the summer. True to his word, Wenger has found matches for the Columbian international. It is great that Wenger can keep his promises, however, when it comes at the cost of the team dropping Champions League matches, it raises so many questions about Wenger and his ability to manage Arsenal properly.
This is the second Champions League match in a row that Cech will not play in.
The opening fixture saw Arenal shocking loose to Dinamo Zagreb 2-1. The Gunners hold a talented squad that should not have problems with getting out of group play. However, if the club continues to go into matches without their star goalkeeper, on purpose, it could be a short and unfortunate run in the European tournament.
In theory, a manager should know his players better than anyone else, however, with questionable moves like sitting Cech and Ramsey, it raises eyebrows and has to make Gunners supporters very nervous.
