Arsene Wenger believes goalkeeper David Ospina has settled quickly into English football but warned he has not yet won the race to be Arsenal’s permanent No1.

The 26-year-old joined the Gunners from French club Nice in a £3million deal last summer following a series of impressive displays for Columbia at the World Cup.

Ospina suffered injury problems which restricted his involvement from the outset but following Wojciech Szczesny’s £25,000 fine for smoking in the showers after Arsenal’s New Year’s Day defeat at Southampton, he has played all three Premier League games since without conceding a goal.

Having kept four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, Ospina may start to believe he is close to establishing himself as first choice but Wenger insists Szczesny should still be considered his No1 for the time being.

“David Ospina has had some time to settle because he was injured when he arrived here,” said Wenger. “During that time we could see his dedication, his focus and his quality. He’s in a fight with Wojciech Szczesny to start at the moment. Wojciech is the No1 but David has played recently. Can he retain the shirt in the coming games? We’ll decide that. I don’t forget Emiliano Martinez either, who I rate highly. We have three top goalkeepers and the fight for who starts is going on.

Arsenal v Aston Villa - player ratings 20 show all Arsenal v Aston Villa - player ratings 1/20 David Ospina: 7 7- Had very little to do but responded well when called upon well. Will continue to keep Wojciech Szczesny out of the side in this form. 2/20 Hector Bellerin: 8 8- A menace going forward and solid at the back. Rose to every challenge put in front of him and scored a glorious late goal. Looks a real talent. Getty 3/20 Laurent Koscielny: 7 7 - Continued to excel in the heart of the hosts' defence, you don't envisage that it will be Koscielny who loses his place to new signing Gabriel. GETTY 4/20 Francis Coquelin: 8 8 - Fast proving Arsene Wenger's decision not to sign Morgan Schneiderlin right. Another industrious and competitive outing. Getty 5/20 Aaron Ramsey: 7 7 - Despite occasionally going missing, especially just before half time, the Welsh wizard continues to be an invaluable member of Wenger's squad. GETTY 6/20 Theo Walcott: 7 7 - It's good to have Theo back. Typically adventurous going forward, the England man caused havoc at times for the Villa defence. Still a touch off his best but deserved his well-taken goal nonetheless. GETTY 7/20 Santi Cazorla: 7 7 - Announced as Arsenal's player of the month for January before kick-off, the little Spaniard neatly wove things together. Was lucky with his penalty though. GETTY 8/20 Mesut Ozil: 8 8 - His delicious flick allowed Olivier Giroud to open the scoring in the first half before scoring a deserved goal in the second. An otherwise measured and composed display from the German. GETTY 9/20 Olivier Giroud: 7 7 - Took his opportunity in the relaxed fashion we have come to expect. One of the most underrated players at such a high level. GETTY 10/20 Brad Guzan: 5 5 - Any goalkeeper who concedes five goals isn't going to have had the best of afternoons. Foolish foul to give Arsenal a penalty in the latter stages. GETTY 11/20 Alan Hutton: 6 6 - Charged forwards when given half a chance but was responsible for several moves breaking down. GETTY 12/20 Jores Okore: 5 5 - A poor shift from the usually reliable centre-back. Olivier Giroud, supported by the cavalry behind him, ran rings around him. GETTY 13/20 Ciaran Clark: 5 5 - Hasn't looked himself since that sending off at Leicester City. Struggled with Arsenal's intricate play GETTY 14/20 Kieran Richardson: 6 6 - A timid display from the former Manchester United man. Lost possession at key moments and failed to chase back. GETTY 15/20 Carlos Sanchez: 6 6 - Strived to make his mark but the Arsenal midfield were in cruise control for almost the entire match - something he was meant to stop GETTY 16/20 Tom Cleverley: 5 5 - A weak afternoon's work from the on-loan man. Will have to put in more effort if he is to win over the sceptical Villa supporters. GETTY 17/20 Fabian Delph: 6 6 - Another Villa player with the ability to do so much more than he did today. At least he carried a threat in the latter third. getty 18/20 Carles Gil: 6 6 - Hopes were high after his wonder goal against Bournemouth in the FA Cup but the travelling supporters would have expected more today. GETTY 19/20 Christian Benteke: 5 5 - Seemed lethargic for most of the clash and did very little to try and forge a way though the stern Arsenal backline. GETTY 20/20 Andreas Weimann: 7 7 - Was unlucky not to beat Ospina with a powerful header towards the end of the first-half. Ran and ran until the end GETTY 1/20 David Ospina: 7 7- Had very little to do but responded well when called upon well. Will continue to keep Wojciech Szczesny out of the side in this form. 2/20 Hector Bellerin: 8 8- A menace going forward and solid at the back. Rose to every challenge put in front of him and scored a glorious late goal. Looks a real talent. Getty 3/20 Laurent Koscielny: 7 7 - Continued to excel in the heart of the hosts' defence, you don't envisage that it will be Koscielny who loses his place to new signing Gabriel. GETTY 4/20 Francis Coquelin: 8 8 - Fast proving Arsene Wenger's decision not to sign Morgan Schneiderlin right. Another industrious and competitive outing. Getty 5/20 Aaron Ramsey: 7 7 - Despite occasionally going missing, especially just before half time, the Welsh wizard continues to be an invaluable member of Wenger's squad. GETTY 6/20 Theo Walcott: 7 7 - It's good to have Theo back. Typically adventurous going forward, the England man caused havoc at times for the Villa defence. Still a touch off his best but deserved his well-taken goal nonetheless. GETTY 7/20 Santi Cazorla: 7 7 - Announced as Arsenal's player of the month for January before kick-off, the little Spaniard neatly wove things together. Was lucky with his penalty though. GETTY 8/20 Mesut Ozil: 8 8 - His delicious flick allowed Olivier Giroud to open the scoring in the first half before scoring a deserved goal in the second. An otherwise measured and composed display from the German. GETTY 9/20 Olivier Giroud: 7 7 - Took his opportunity in the relaxed fashion we have come to expect. One of the most underrated players at such a high level. GETTY 10/20 Brad Guzan: 5 5 - Any goalkeeper who concedes five goals isn't going to have had the best of afternoons. Foolish foul to give Arsenal a penalty in the latter stages. GETTY 11/20 Alan Hutton: 6 6 - Charged forwards when given half a chance but was responsible for several moves breaking down. GETTY 12/20 Jores Okore: 5 5 - A poor shift from the usually reliable centre-back. Olivier Giroud, supported by the cavalry behind him, ran rings around him. GETTY 13/20 Ciaran Clark: 5 5 - Hasn't looked himself since that sending off at Leicester City. Struggled with Arsenal's intricate play GETTY 14/20 Kieran Richardson: 6 6 - A timid display from the former Manchester United man. Lost possession at key moments and failed to chase back. GETTY 15/20 Carlos Sanchez: 6 6 - Strived to make his mark but the Arsenal midfield were in cruise control for almost the entire match - something he was meant to stop GETTY 16/20 Tom Cleverley: 5 5 - A weak afternoon's work from the on-loan man. Will have to put in more effort if he is to win over the sceptical Villa supporters. GETTY 17/20 Fabian Delph: 6 6 - Another Villa player with the ability to do so much more than he did today. At least he carried a threat in the latter third. getty 18/20 Carles Gil: 6 6 - Hopes were high after his wonder goal against Bournemouth in the FA Cup but the travelling supporters would have expected more today. GETTY 19/20 Christian Benteke: 5 5 - Seemed lethargic for most of the clash and did very little to try and forge a way though the stern Arsenal backline. GETTY 20/20 Andreas Weimann: 7 7 - Was unlucky not to beat Ospina with a powerful header towards the end of the first-half. Ran and ran until the end GETTY

“You have to be consistent if you want to retain the shirt. It can be very difficult to adapt for a goalkeeper when you move to England. In fact, it is maybe the most special and difficult position to get used to. Why? Because there is more freedom here to challenge the ‘keeper than in any other country, which I like.

“It is a big test for a goalkeeper because you need to be committed, brave and not fazed by the challenges you get. The first signs that David has shown are positive but it is not done. Every game is no important for him.”