Petr Cech declared himself fit to face Olympiacos despite Arsene Wenger claiming £10m goalkeeper was injured

  • Arsenal suffered shock UEFA Champions League loss to Olympiacos
  • Arsene Wenger decided to hand David Ospina a starting spot
  • No 1 goalkeeper Petr Cech watched on from the bench at the Emirates
  • Wenger claimed that Cech was injured despite naming him on the bench

By Neil Ashton for MailOnline

Published: 03:30 EST, 30 September 2015 | Updated: 07:30 EST, 30 September 2015

The mystery behind Arsene Wenger's decision to leave out Petr Cech deepened on Wednesday morning when it emerged that the keeper was fit to start against Olympiacos.

Wenger claimed during a prickly exchange following Arsenal's disastrous 3-2 defeat in the Champions League that Cech was injured.

But Cech declared himself fit to play, despite a niggling calf injury that has been troubling him since before Arsenal's 5-2 victory at Leicester on Saturday.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech watched on from the bench as Arsenal were beaten by Olympiacos

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech watched on from the bench as Arsenal were beaten by Olympiacos

David Ospina (centre) scored an own goal for Arsenal after flapping at a corner under no pressure

David Ospina (centre) scored an own goal for Arsenal after flapping at a corner under no pressure

The Gunners keeper ended up bundling the ball over his own goal line to give Olympiacos a 2-1 lead

The Gunners keeper ended up bundling the ball over his own goal line to give Olympiacos a 2-1 lead

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Wenger claimed there are 'things you don't know about' during an emotional outburst following their second successive defeat in the Champions League.

Cech reported the problem to Arsenal's medical team but it did not trouble him during their victory at the King Power Stadium and he wanted to face Olympiacos.

He was on the bench for Tuesday night's game and was instead replaced by Colombian keeper David Ospina.

After last season's victory in the FA Cup final Wenger claimed Ospina was the best keeper in the league, but he still went on to sign Cech from Chelsea.

Speaking after the game, Wenger refused to admit he made a mistake in selecting Ospina ahead of the former Chelsea man.

'To say I regret the decision is always the simple thing. No keeper is mistake-free, it could have happened to Petr Cech as well. That's part of it,' he said.

'Why did I make the decision? I don't give you why. I do not have to sit here and give you any explanation about every decision I make.

'You are capable to judge what I do and I leave you to that. 

'I made the decisions and the selections for the team and I am responsible for them. And I know many things that you don't know. Or that you ignore.

'We cannot select the team by making a poll before the game and getting everybody's opinion.'

Arsene Wenger claimed that Cech was injured during a prickly exchange following Arsenal's disastrous defeat

Arsene Wenger claimed that Cech was injured during a prickly exchange following Arsenal's disastrous defeat

Wenger, sat next to assistant Steve Bould, watched his side slump to successive European losses

Wenger, sat next to assistant Steve Bould, watched his side slump to successive European losses

 

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