Arsenal: David Ospina improving in Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez fight for No.1 role

Arsenal summer signing David Ospina has claimed his fight with Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez for the number one role at the Emirates Stadium is helping him to improve.

The Colombian international moved to the north London club in the summer of 2014 from Ligue 1 side Nice for around £3m ($4.6m) after catching manager Arsene Wenger's eye during an impressive World Cup.

Ospina, 26, then missed much of the first part of the campaign due to injury but has become Arsenal's number one 'keeper after Szczesny reportedly smoked in the showers following the New Year's Day loss at Southampton.

The Colombian has since kept five clean sheets in 11 appearances and has been an asset in the Gunners's recent good run in the Premier League, winning six games from the last seven.

Ospina has since started the last six Premier League games, while Szczesny, 24, has only played in the FA Cup wins over Brighton and Middlesbrough. And 22-year-old Emiliano Martinez has made six first-team appearances this season, including two in the Champions League.

"Here you are fighting in every training session," Ospina said to Arsenal's official website. "Arsenal have some great goalkeepers and that's what's important.

"The manager takes the decision, but everyone does their own job, the competition is healthy and I hope to continue making the most of the opportunity I've been given.

"At the level we're at, in a team like Arsenal, you always have to keep performing to stay in the team and this helps you to work much harder and to improve every day."

Meanwhile, the 'keeper hailed the January arrival of Gabriel Paulista after the Brazilian centre-back made an impressive performance during the 2-0 victory over Everton on 1 March.

"He's a player who is very quick and very technical," the goalkeeper said. "It was a supreme game from him. He helps take us forward, Arsenal can count on some great defenders and he's one of them."