Petr Cech to Miss Arsenal vs. Stoke City with Groin Injury; David Ospina Starts

A groin injury forced Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech to miss the team's clash with Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Gunners provided their starting XI an hour before the match, with David Ospina the surprise inclusion between the sticks:

James Benge of the Evening Standard provided further details on why the 35-year-old has been left out:

The Gunners confirmed the issue Cech is suffering with is only a "minor" problem.

The former Chelsea man is one of the most experienced players in this Arsenal squad. Should he be sidelined for a few games, including Thursday's meeting with CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, that knowhow will be missed.

The recent clean sheet for Cech in the Premier League against Watford offered a reminder of just how impressive the Czech Republic star has been through the years, per BBC Match of the Day:

Even so, like a lot of Arsenal players, Cech has been well short of his best this season, with the team struggling in defence.

The Arsenal stopper even posted an apology on Twitter for his performance in a 2-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion last month, as he could have done better with both of the home side's goals.

As Squawka Football noted, when Cech has made blunders, typically they've been costly:

Ospina is a capable backup and has impressed in spells whenever he has been handed the chance at the Emirates Stadium. He's played 11 games in cup matches this season and kept five clean sheets.