Arsene Wenger expects close Petr Cech, David Ospina battle

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that goalkeeper David Ospina can give Petr Cech a "hard time" in the battle for his No.1 shirt in North London.

The Czech, 33, displaced his Colombian counterpart after joining in a £10m deal from Chelsea in June, but Wenger expects the 27-year-old to fight for his place.

"He's responded very well," he told the club's official website. "David Ospina is a very strong man and a fantastic goalkeeper.

"He's ready for the fight and will give Petr Cech a hard time. There will be enough room for him to play games as well, maybe sometimes to come in during the season.

"Why shouldn't he be able to win his No 1 shirt back? That's the target for him and I'm convinced he will fight for that."

Cech, who won four Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, endured an ominous start to his Arsenal career after making a couple of costly errors in the 2-0 opening-day defeat to West Ham United.

In January, Ospina had displaced Wojciech Szczesny - who was loaned to Roma this summer - as the Gunners' first-choice goalkeeper.