Arsenal Internationals: David Ospina again shows his shortcomings

As many different Arsenal players go on their travels for their respective national sides, David Ospina, unfortunately, again shows his shortcomings as his Colombia side dispatched France with a remarkable second-half comeback.

It is always interesting to see how Arsenal players do on the international stage. Playing for different teams, in different systems, for different managers, with different teammates. Some often times flourish — Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil. Others toil — Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas.

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In this latest international break, David Ospina, as Colombia’s number-one goalkeeper, travelled to take on France on Friday night. It did not go to plan.

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While Colombia staged an astonishing second-half comeback to haul their way to the victory after going two goals down early on, it was Ospina who was at the heart of the hole that they dug for themselves.

As left back Lucas Digne pushed down the left flank in the 11th minute, the Colombia backline, and Ospina as a result, was in a fairly comfortable, connected, and secure defensive shape. While Digne had been allowed to surge to the byline, Ospina and a defender were marshalling the near post, another three were stood around the penalty spot, and France had only Olivier Giroud in the six-yard box. It should have been easily defended.

Unfortunately, Ospina proceeded to spill a fairly easily-collectable cross. It fell straight into the path of Giroud who sharply scampered onto the loose ball and turned it into the gaping goal. Hardly a glorious moment for the Arsenal shot-stopper.

https://twitter.com/footbolvids/status/977279037059018752

And this is perhaps the crux of the issue for Ospina. Considering the position of the game at the current stage, this was a simple save for him. It’s almost as if he knew it. Complacency crept in.

Ospina has never lacked ability. Although his slighter frame is a little concerning, especially in the more physical English game, his cat-like reflexes, his strong hands to parry clear shots, his agility and athletic nature in which he makes the most astonishing saves look easy all comprise an extremely gifted goalkeeper.

But his mental fragility is utterly undermining. He suffers lapses in concentration, like here, and allies them with moments of utter madness, making some strange decisions that only seem to pile pressure on the defenders around him. Gary Neville said it best when he said that Ospina makes him ‘nervous’. That is exactly the feeling that he instils in those who watch him and those he plays with.

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This is just another example in the growing case of Ospina blunders. It’s just in his nature.