Arsenal injury news: David Ospina rules out serious back issue following Romelu Lukaku clash

Arsenal goalie David Ospina has sought to play down concerns over a potentially severe back injury after his collision with striker Romelu Lukaku during the Gunners' 2-0 victory at Everton on 19 March. The Colombia international said national team doctors will assess him before upcoming games against Bolivia and Ecuador, but ruled out a major setback for his season.

Arsenal secured a comfortable win at Goodison Park to keep alive their distant hopes of the Premier League title. They sit eleven points behind Leicester City with a game in hand. However, the win saw new worries about the Emirates injury situation, with Mesut Ozil limping off with ankle trouble before Ospina saw himself in the midst of a heavy collision with Lukaku and his teammate Gabriel.

Wenger immediately ruled out concerns about serious problems for the duo, saying: "Ospina has had a kick in the back. I think [Ospina and Ozil] should be alright. It's an ankle problem [for Ozil] but it looks more like a kick than a ligament problem."

Ospina has confirmed now confirmed the news, travelling to Colombia to join up with his national team cohorts ahead of World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Bolivia and Ecuador. The 27-year-old admitted he is yet to have a scan, but hopes to be fit for both games.

"I am happy to arrive in Colombia and to be in the national team again. Now I need to make myself available for the coaching staff. I'm a little sore in my back but it is nothing serious," Ospina said to Colombian reporters, as quoted by AS. "There was no time to undergo a scan [at Arsenal] because I went straight to the airport after the game. Today the medical staff of the national team will examine me in the best way."

Ospina has recently taken advantage of Petr Cech's injury to secure himself the number one role at Arsenal in recent games. However, the Chelsea icon is expected to return for the first match after the international break, a game against Watford.

The Colombian says he is happy to prove his worth once more, helping the Gunners finish the season on a high with the Premier League still mathematically possible.

"I am happy to have had the confidence [of Wenger] and I am trying to seize it on the pitch," he said. "We can still win the Premier League, you have to believe right until the end. We have eight cup finals ahead, we have to do our job and hope that [Leicester and Tottenham] lose some games."