David Ospina ruled out for three months with recurring thigh injury

 
Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina is facing the prospect of spending up to three months out of action after suffering a recurrence of the thigh injury he was carrying when he first arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The Mirror carries quotes from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who confirmed the Colombia international is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after aggravating a previous problem in his leg during the recent Champions League clash against Galatasaray.

Ospina joins a growing list of casualties currently on the treatment table in north London, and will force Wenger to turn to his inexperienced third-choice custodian Emiliano Martinez for Wednesday night's trip to Anderlecht in Belgium.

With Wojciech Szczesny suspended following his red card in the previous round of European fixtures, the 22-year-old Argentine will make his competitive debut in the elite club competition.

 

Asked for an update on Ospina's fitness during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Wenger revealed that Arsenal would be without the South American stopper for a longer period than initially expected.

 

"It is exactly the same [injury]," he explained. "He had his first injury in Nice, it was a knee problem and I think he was a bit rushed back.

"He didn't use his legs so his muscle became weaker, then he got injured during the World Cup. And after that he came to us injured, from the World Cup. It took him two months to play a game.

"I had to bring him on against Galatasaray without warm-up, without being prepared and he had a recurrence of that injury. That means he is out for two to three months.

"Now we have to be really careful because he has a recurrence of a thigh injury that's very difficult. It's a long-term injury."

Slow start

The 26-year-old's only Arsenal start since joining in a £3.2 million deal from Nice after the World Cup came against Southampton in the 2-1 Capital One Cup defeat at the Emirates in September.

Ospina was far from convincing in his display against Saints, with his distribution a particular cause for concern, but he would still represent a much more favourable option for the Gunners when they run out at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium tomorrow night.

Szczesny's dismissal leaves Wenger with no choice but to put Martinez in his starting line-up, and leaves Arsenal worryingly short in that area of the pitch for another crucial Champions League match.

The Gunners currently occupy second place in the Group D table with three points after two games following defeat against Borussia Dortmund in Germany and victory over Galatasaray at home last time out.

Defeat against Anderlecht will allow the Belgian Pro League outfit to usurp the Premier League giants into the runner-up qualifying spot, while Dortmund will be expected to extend their stay at the top of the table with victory against Cesare Prandelli's side in Turkey.