Nice Manager Claude Puel Confirms David Ospina Will Join Arsenal

Arsenal are closing in on third summer signing as Ligue 1 club Nice manager Claude Puel confirmed David Ospina will make a switch to the Emirates.

The 25-year-old had an impressive World Cup with Colombia and his form has seen him attract interest from the Gunners. Arsenal have already signed Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy and Ospina will now follow them this summer.

The north London club allowed Lukasz Fabianski leave the Emirates on a free transfer as the Polish keeper completed his switch to Swansea City earlier this summer. This has left Arsene Wenger with Wojciech Szczesny as the only other recognised keeper in the squad.

With Ospina all set to join Arsenal, Puel believes his move to the Premier League will be a good deal for the Gunners.

"It's confirmed, yes. He's a very good goalkeeper, you saw in the World Cup how important a goalkeeper he is," Puel told Sky Sports.

"It's important for him to try another league, another club and Arsenal is a fantastic club for him. He can take the No.1 jersey at Arsenal because he is very strong.

"It is confirmed for me that he is going, yes. He's good with his feet and his hands. He knows the game very well and is a very good player. It's a good deal for Arsenal."

The Arsenal manager had earlier acknowledged his side's interest in signing Ospina. He replaced Hugo Lloris and became Nice's first choice stopper as the French international joined Lyon, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur.

Wenger hailed the Colombian international's immediate impact when he replaced Lloris at Nice. The French manager also admitted that he was impressed by the 25-year-old's performance during the World Cup.

"I've known him for a long time because he played for Nice and he went there a few years ago and slowly became a very important player for them," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"Hugo Lloris played for Nice before he moved to Lyon and after he moved they played Ospina. He had a big impact straight away and Lloris was not an easy player to replace. I felt that he did very well at the World Cup."