Arsenal sign Colombia keeper

David Ospina: Arsenal sign Colombia keeper, says Nice coach





Arsenal have completed the signing of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, according to Nice coach Claude Puel.


Ospina, 25, has been with the French Ligue 1 side since 2008 and helped his country reach the quarter-finals at the recent World Cup in Brazil.


Puel said of the move: "It's confirmed, yes. It's a good affair for Arsenal because he's a very good player."


Without confirming the signing, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "I felt he did very well at the World Cup."


Wenger, whose side were beaten 1-0 by New York Red Bulls in a friendly on Saturday, had earlier suggested that Ospina could displace Wojciech Szczesny as the club's first-choice goalkeeper once a deal was completed.


Meaner Ospina


With David Ospina ever-present, Colombia conceded fewer goals in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup (13) than any other South American team


Speaking after Saturday's match, the Arsenal manager said that Ospina had proved his worth at Nice by replacing France keeper Hugo Lloris, now at Tottenham.


Wenger said: "I've known him for a long time because he played for Nice - he went there a few years ago and slowly became a very important player for them.


"Hugo Lloris played for Nice before he moved to Lyon. After he moved, they played Ospina. He had a big impact straight away and Lloris was not an easy player to replace."


Puel, speaking to Sky Sports News after Nice were beaten 3-2 at Brentford in a friendly on Saturday, said: "It's a good affair for Arsenal because he's a very good player. You will see next season the quality of this player."