Arsene Wenger has backed Petr Cech to have the same impact at Arsenal that Edwin van der Sar did at Manchester United.
The Dutch keeper’s career looked to be winding down when he found himself at Fulham, but a move to United in 2005 saw him enjoy a trophy-laded Indian summer, and the Arsenal manager is convinced the Czech international can do the same having left Chelsea after a year more or less in the doldrums.
“His move is a bit like Edwin van der Sar’s,” he said, “who went from Fulham to Manchester United but still had five or six years there, so I don’t see why he shouldn’t have a few years.
“He’s very serious, he trains well, has no big problems. He has a good combination between quality, agility, size – he looked like he was built for English football. I think he is a very bright goalkeeper as well.
“He has an intimidating presence, that is for sure. He makes the goals look small. That’s the kind of charisma he has.”
His arrival is a case of better late than never for Wenger who had targetted Cech when he was in France at Rennes.
“Before he went to Chelsea we were interested as the guy who brought him to Chelsea is a good friend of mine,” he said.
“One of the guys who was the agent and he told me there was an exceptional keeper at Rennes. He was very young when he went to Rennes. One of my assistants, Boro Primorac, his son was a player in Rennes and he said they had a very good goalkeeper.
“So we knew, but I think Chelsea were a bit quicker than us.”
Of course Arsenal’s new number 1 (wearing 33) will face his old club tomorrow at Wembley, a clean sheet would be a nice way to start.
Smash those cunts!
You beat me to it ! COYG
Hoping he makes the crucial saves, Chelsea realise what they have lost and we set a big marker for the season.
I believe his distribution will get us more additional goals than his saves will save (if that makes sense?)!
Proper signing!
COYG!
I wonder why Cech can’t take the number 1 shirt now that Szczesny’s left. Bit odd to change one’s number so soon, granted. But it makes sense. Though it might be a bit awkward when (if?) Szczesny returns next season.
I can see newspapers pack page on Monday with the title ‘Cech Mate’ after we demolishe the Chavs tomorrow. COYG
I’d rather that the few not pummeled by our coq (good at smashing cunts), are blocked by defence such that Cech has nothing to do.
I guess we can allow him one ‘world class’ save (and a clean sheet of course).
Hope kept all their cunty shots out, as we beat them chavs silly.
COYG! 😉
We’ll win alright tomorrow but you can hear Maureen already – Wenger’s spent more money than us, it doesn’t mean anything, Cech had nothing to with the win etc etc Really gets under your skin, deserves a really good hammering!!
The thing is tho chelsea haven’t spent more than us this summer they’ve spent £20m (Kennedy and begovic) plus whatever Falcaos loan cost and we’ve only spent £11m on cech who will help us smash those cunts tomorrow.
Where did you learn arithmetic?
You say: Chelsea haven’t spent more than us; they’ve spent £20m and we’ve only spent £11m
Haha my bad I meant have* apologies for my mistake xD
I know we all want to beat them, but it’s the charity shield, it’s just a friendly to raise a bit of money. The match means very little, I can see us beating them on Sunday purely because I can’t really see the Chelsea players being bothered to put in their all.
Whatever the result can we all agree not to go bananas? Beating Chelsea on Sunday won’t mean were going to win the tittle, nor should we clamour for Wenger’s head if we lose.
I don’t care if it’s the community shield, a charity boxing match, or an 80’s round of pub trivia: I’m celebrating when Arsene beats the smug bus driver.
Just beat Chelsea….. God I hate that smug SOB. I think you know I’m talking about
By the way, I’m from India and unclear about the term ‘Indian Summer’, what is out exactly
It is when it is warmer in autumn than during the normal summer months buddy. If we have a crap summer with loads of rain but September and October are warm we call it an Indian summer. Van der Sar had an Indian Summer because he won lots of trophies in his autumn years as a keeper.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_summer
*it exactly
Late sunshine hot days at the normal end of summer. (I hope you are not taking the piss)
Asking about a northern hemisphere phenomena when he comes from the southern hemisphere…
I’m sure he could do far far better than that at taking the p*ss, on an Arsenal site!!!
India is in the northern hemisphere. But not everyone knows each other’s slang.
A clean sheet will surely be a good sign of things to come
I hope we beat Chelsea so convincingly that Mourinho is psychologically and emotionally broken, never to be seen again after he is carted off to a mental asylum at the full-time whistle.
I think we will destroy them but the Maureen “carting off” thing probably won’t happen, sorry but….. “one out of two ain’t bad”!
COYG!
Beating Chelsea will have a very positive effect on the team. So lets go and hammer them tomorrow. COYG!
over the last few years we have had a keeper not wearing the number one jersey as our number one keeper.
sczc 13
followed by sczc 1 for sometime and ospina 13
cech 33
“Chelsea were a bit quicker than us.”
Chel$ea had a bigger bigger bank account methinks, eh Pet-a-Cheque, eh? EH?
Again signs that Wenger has learnt some lessons from last seasons failure. Lack of Cback cost us the title early on first half of season. A knock to Koscielny and an unexpected (or should have been expected) knock to Debuchy meant we were reliant on young Calum and square peg in round hole Monreal to fill an unfamiliar position. This and not some mythical Wcup hangover affected Per. Instead of this bogus narrative of a soft centre with Arteta and Flamini, it was actually goals conceded from corners, set pieces and crosses which cost us. This suggest it was defensive… Read more »
Buffon is 37 and still very much on the top of his game. Keepers mature later and can go on till 40. Jose may have let Cech go prematurely me thinks. Wenger now appreciates the utility of older heads in the squad where he was too quick to shed on age in earlier reign. He also has Arteta, Rosicky as wise older men. Flamini, Santi, Per Koscielny, Debuchy and Monreal add stability through experience in critical areas defensively where youth is allowed more free hand to prosper going forward. These players in coming summers will need replacing so that mythical… Read more »
I always thought that VDS was overrated so I would be disappointed if Cech doesn’t have far more of an impact on Arsenal than VDS had at United.
I had a dream last night that we beat Chelski in Champions League final, with Cech saving Cesc’s penalty in the shootout. Mou turned and ran down the tunnel ranting and crying and it was a perfect moment.
NO winning mentality.
That’s why we could beat city, united and now chelsea (not to mention Wolfsburg and Lyon)
NO experience in winning. That’s why we bought Per, Ozil, Alexis and now Cech.
😉