Wenger hails Ospina, baffled by Giroud red card

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left of two minds following the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage, praising goalkeeper David Ospina for his performance while defending Olivier Giroud for picking up a red card.

Controversy surrounded both players before and after the match, with Wenger criticised for selecting Ospina ahead of Petr Cech prior to kickoff and Giroud being unfairly ejected from the match for a second yellow card.

Wenger's decision to start Ospina may have come after Cech conceded an own goal earlier in the week against Southampton, and while his choice was questioned, Wenger believes Ospina proved him right in the end.

"This was maybe his most influential performance for us," Wenger told BT Sport, as quoted by ESPN FC. "I have two world-class goalkeepers, I will repeat that. I know we have enough games to give them games. But if you cannot play ... You cannot keep two world-class goalkeepers that don't get games.

"On what he delivered tonight, he has the right to stay in the team for the next Champions League game."

Related: 3 criticisms of Arsenal's approach to the draw with Paris Saint-Germain

As for Giroud, Wenger was left rather puzzled with the referees decision to book the French forward. Replays seemingly show Marco Verratti tackling Giroud and bringing him to the ground. When Giroud stands back on his feet, Marquinhos looks to push him from behind, and Verratti was tripped, too.

The referee gave both Giroud and Verratti a second yellow card, but Wenger stood behind his striker, saying Giroud did nothing wrong.

"I couldn't (understand it) either," Wenger said. "Giroud swears to me that he did nothing at all. I have to look at it again, because the ball was on the other side and suddenly there was a little bit of unrest there with Veratti and Giroud. I don't know why.

"He said to me he did nothing at all. We have it certainly on the television, and I believe Giroud that he did nothing at all."