Arriving in north London at a pivotal moment, David Ospina found the Gunners losing momentum under the Arsène Wenger era. The club, then lacking investment, struggled to stay in the title race despite still playing attractive games. It was also a time of evolution for goalkeepers.
We’ve been reassessing a bit about how this position has evolved over the years. Not all goalkeepers woke up one morning with instructions to become kicking experts. But a change in the role was well and truly taking shape when Ospina arrived in England – a change to which he had to adapt.
“I’ve experienced all these transitions over the generations. Today, our role has taken on a much greater dimension, mainly because we are expected to be much more involved with our feet, which was not at all necessary in the past,” he explains.
Is he enjoying this new role? “It’s just the game,” he says. Things change over time, and as he enters his 40s, Ospina knows that tactical adjustments are inevitable.
“Having technical skills is crucial, as it allows us to launch offensive sequences from the back. The goalkeeper has truly become an integral part of the starting lineup: he is no longer just the player who prevents goals, but also the one capable of orchestrating a transition quickly and precisely,” he explains.
Unfortunately for him, his career at Arsenal never really took off: injuries slowed down his progress, and the arrival of Petr Cech from Chelsea in 2015 permanently blocked his path.
However, he came across notable figures: Arsène Wenger, wise mentor and leading coach, as well as Mikel Arteta, then captain of the club.
“I was lucky to have him as a teammate when I arrived at Arsenal. Even then, he was already showing leadership and showing what he could bring to the game throughout his career,” recalls the Colombian.
So it’s no surprise that he became head coach, Ospina adds. Will he be the man to win a first Premier League title after four second places? Nothing is less certain.
“They have a golden opportunity to win the Premier League, led by an excellent manager and with young players putting in exceptional performances. So let’s hope they manage to take this step. I would be very happy to see Arsenal win the Premier League title,” he said.
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