Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville believe Arsenal must buy a “proper No.1” goalkeeper this summer if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season..
David Ospina, who has been the preferred choice ahead of Wojciech Szczesny since the turn of the year, was arguably at fault for the decisive goal as the Gunners lost 1-0 at home to Swansea City on Monday evening.
And both Carragher and Neville claim that Arsene Wenger must invest in a goalkeeper this summer if they are to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for honours next year.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Monday’s game, Carragher said: “I think Arsenal need to go out in the summer and just buy a proper No.1.
“His record is good because the team are playing well and are defending well so they’re not having that much to do, but he was bought as a No.2.
“Very rarely do you see a No.2 goalkeeper become a No.1. If he was that good, why was he bought as a No.2? Why wasn’t he coming and being the No.1?
“That’s what Arsenal need. They need a world-class goalkeeper. Petr Cech? I don’t think Jose would like that.”
Neville, who played with Peter Schmeichel, David Seaman and Edwin van der Sar during his England and Manchester United career, also believes Arsenal need to do better than Ospina but does not believe Chelsea shot-stopper Cech is attainable.
He said: “If I was Jose Mourinho, with Arsenal potentially being one of my biggest rivals next season, I would not sell them Cech at all.
“It lets Arsenal off the hook. You could argue they have struggled for a goalkeeper since Jens Lehmann and David Seaman. It’s a struggle to win a title without a great goalkeeper, a massive struggle.
“Ospina is obviously a good goalkeeper and he has done well, but he is not a No.1 and they need a top goalkeeper. They need someone who is going to make saves like that [to stop Swansea’s goal] and save his team points.
“Tonight it was a goalkeeping mistake. People at home will say it’s harsh, but it’s a fact. Ultimately when your centre-backs and full-backs get caught at the back post you need your goalkeeper to pull you out and he hasn’t done it here tonight.
“It’s not a massive mistake, but it’s one of those things that tells Arsenal moving forwards they need a No.1 goalkeeper. I don’t think he’s their No.1. He’s probably a No.2.”