Arsene Wenger to show Arsenal doubters who's boss by backing David Ospina

Arsene Wenger is the longest serving manager in the Premier League, but is again under pressure

ARSENE WENGER could put his career in the hands of David Ospina on Tuesday when Arsenal take on Bayern Munich in a do-or-die game.

 

Saturday's result at Watford will pale into insignificance compared to the decision the Frenchman is set to make over the next 48 hours.

The Arsenal boss has to decide whether to put goalkeeper Ospina back into the firing line for the Gunners must-win Champions League clash against Bayern Munich or trust his number one Petr Cech.

Either way it could make or break Arsenal - and Wenger - as far as Europe is concerned.

The manager knows that nothing less than a win will do to keep his side's slender Champions League hopes alive.

He also knows that his Colombian keeper is likely to come under intense scrutiny after an own goal howler against Olympiakos that played a major part in Arsenal's shock 3-2 defeat.

But Wenger, also criticised for picking Ospina instead of Cech against the Greeks, does not like being lectured. So don't be surprised if he springs another surprise.

He has already hinted which way he will go with a bitter blast at critics,  refusing to say why he gambled on his second choice stopper in that last match.

 

Arsenal have endured two poor losses to leave their Champions League hopes dangling precariously

Wenger pointed out that Ospina kept 14 clean sheets in 19 appearances last season, and said: "No keeper is mistake-free. It could have happened to Petr Cech as well.

"I don't have to explain every decision I make. I can't select a team by asking everybody's opinion. I made the decisions and selections for the team and I am responsible for them."

What he did reveal, however, is that Arsenal will play more like they did in the 3-0 win over Manchester United than they did against Olympiakos with a high tempo performance designed to unsettle the German champs from the off.