Arsene Wenger has continued to lavish praise on Petr Cech claiming his summer signing has brought a level of experience that boosts confidence across the squad.
Last weekend’s 2-0 victory at Aston Villa saw the Czech international equal David James’ Premier League clean sheet record – a feat he’s achieved in 223 fewer appearances that the former England international – and further consolidate his credentials as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the modern era.
Reflecting on a meeting with Cech prior to his arrival from Chelsea in June, Wenger noted how impressed he was by the 33-year-old’s all-round knowledge of the game.
“He has brought his experience, his calmness and his leadership as well,” the manager told Arsenal.com. “He has been good and highly focused.
“I don’t want to be detrimental to David Ospina because he was exceptional last year, but Petr Cech has done it all, so he is someone who gives you an aura, a charisma that is always important in the big games for the players.
“I met him before I signed him and we had a long discussion about the game and the job and his position, and I was deeply impressed by his knowledge, by his professionalism, by his detailed knowledge. So since I have not been surprised, because I got the whole package in one go.
“You always look around you in the dressing room before a big game and you think, ‘Are we strong enough?’ And these kind of faces help you to believe it. Also in the big games, the number of shots on target shrinks. But then the one save can be the difference in the end result.”
As things stand the Gunners have the best defensive record in the league; not a state of affairs that has played out too regularly since the move to the Emirates.
“There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper,” added Wenger. “I’m now 30 years in the job and as I said the other day you learn over the years that the goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football – and maybe the most vital one for winning things.
“For example when Spain won the 2010 World Cup, in every game [Iker] Casillas saved a one-on-one when it was 0-0 or 1-0, or saved a decisive ball. Even in the final against Arjen Robben – and instead of being 1-0 down you are 0-0. And that at the end of the day makes the difference.”
Was talking to some Chelsea fans last night who think that Courtois is better, dominates the area better and is younger so will play for far longer.
I was happy to disagree.
Well when Cech retires an Arsenal legend, we can get Courtois from those cunts.
No need for Courtois. Hopefully Chesney will have matured and be fulfilling his potential.
Chezza is a clown – got suspended by Roma for smoking. Would be a massive step backwards after Cech.
Courtois & De Gea are his peers and compared to them he is Almoonya reincarnated.
he did not get suspended by Roma for smoking, he was left out for one game cos fans were upset over his comments after barca smashed roma in the CL, about how good Barca were to watch, he was then brought back in and was outstanding as Roma made it through to the last 16. He kept another clean sheet today.
the Roma manager has had nothing but good things to say about Szczesny all season, but as usual Arsenal fans like to keep up their attacks on our players who they have decided to scapegoat. Utter madness.
I had high hopes for chez but I think he’s too irrational. Which is also the reason he’s good, but overall I don’t get the feeling he can be as solid as cech. I’m happy to be proven wrong. Never thought Joel could be anything after all good loans
i honestly don’t see Szczesny developing into the consistent, dependable personality that can lead a team to a league title. You can’t just coast with a goalkeeper who doesn’t seem to be paying attention until he’s picking the ball out of the goal. When a striker is in on goal he knows it’ll probably go in if he’s got it on target. And he’s never seemed aware of how this attitude makes the whole team jittery. With Cech you know you have a guy who can bail you out if you make a mistake.
When Chelsea get relegated we can get him.
Surprised you didn’t mention Damian Martinez! In my opinion, I think he’ll make a better understudy and subsequently,replacement for Cech! Dude’s as tall as Cech, is bigger and has sharper reflexes plus the required focus for a goalkeeper. My opinion though….
Not seen much of him,
Happy to see you proved right
For now Cech is king
Courtois would have probably moved on by then NYCGun, no decent player want’s to play in the Championship if they can help it.
Well Cech has at the very least 4 more seasons at the pinnacle of the game so the argument about Courteous being younger is irrelevant currently. I suspect Cech is far more influential in the crucial area of leadership.
I think Courtois is good and maybe a future great among keepers, maybe not even a complete cunt of a person which otherwise seems to be the criteria for that club, but so far this season it looks like Cech has outdone him.
He slept with De Bruyne’s ex Mrs when they were still together.
Didn’t know that. What a classy guy. Good to see he’s in the right club with John Terry then.
Courtois could take over from John Terry in that department.
I gather JT’s wife gets a bit lonely most nights…
Cech could have saved the Titanic
Cech could have saved Mourinho’s job 😛
Easily some of the best money spent by Wenger. Both Chelsea and our season’s could have been different if he’d stayed there.
How about Henry? Bergkamp? Sanogo?
He said “some” not “all” etc
Wasn’t Bergkamp signed by Rioch?
If Wenger is such a believer in having a top quality keeper how the fuck did he persist for so long with Almunia..I’m happy we’ve signed Cech but it’s clear he dropped the ball in those years after Jens. I don’t want to be saying the same thing about the work we need to do in Jan. get a CDM in and let’s win the league this year!
Because he believed? He’s just a human you know
He tried to sign cech before Chelsea for their mits on him
Probably because we hadn’t a fucking shilling to spend …
Perhaps when Cech goes Wenger now knows that it makes perfect sense to spend 20 or 30 million on a keeper. They win you games!
Fair question.
Why all the downvotes? Wenger is saying now how “underrated” the GK position is – so why didn’t he take serious steps to resolve it for 7 years? (i’m a staunch Wengerite but these comments irk me somewhat)
On the matter of Cech, after Chelsea fans laughingly claim they cheer “current and former players”, they just outdid themselves and booed nearly a third of their team roster. Andd on top of that they booed Roman as well. Fucking chavs don’t even know what they want.
Roster?
More than happy to welcome fans from over the pond but please get the terminology correct. Thanks.
Wenger’s egalitarian disposition demands that all the players take it in turns to wash the dishes, hoover the front room, and take the rubbish out…
Oh sod off. (An American)
He’s already made some blinding saves…just hope he can steer clear of our injury curse. Happy to have Ospina in reserve though
It was definitely a top piece of business to bring Petre Cech in to the club as he has instilled a confidence in our defence not seen since Jens Lehmann and the Invincibles. We can all see the other two positions that need strengthening and it is very well documented that we have more than enough cash on the balance sheet to sort the problem out but we haven’t which I don’t understand UNLESS another manager is in place for next season and we are keeping our powder dry for him to bring in truly world class additions. I’m obviously… Read more »
I can’t understand the hype about gardiola yes he did great at barca then at Munich. But to be honest if you put me in charge of that calibre of players I will win something. Same for Maureen being the greatest manager of our generation? My arse! Put him in charge of Aston vila or Sunderland with only mission to save them from relegation if he can. Not sylverware just stay up! Kopp was at durtmund some galubles even wanted him here. When his best players were sold then the free fall started. Liverpool didn’t learn from that and hired… Read more »
Agreed with you so much about Maureen I nearly thumbed you down!!! (As instructed….)
Personally didn’t see the Cech transfer coming, came straight out of the blues.
Talk of Cech taking the leap over to us had been going for a year if I remember correctly.
Jesus saves, but Petr Cech also plays drums…
The titanic? Mourinho? Pssh, Cech can save the world. With some help from levulinic flames of course.
Off topic but is it true that when Jose was fired he was offered 40 redundancy or he could keep Cest?
The £40m is a rounded sum spead over the remaining of the tosser’s contact. I can get it if he doesn’t get employment over the remaining of his contact. Di mateo did that
Cesc *
It’s Cech! Petr Cech. We don’t know anybody called cesc. Never heard of it, doesn’t exist.
That’s why I said “Hopefully he
will have matured and be fulfilling his potential.” And as a consideration Cech has many more years ahead of him.
Arsene: “I got the whole package with Czech, I got a goalkeeper who could decide matches, I got Mourinho fired, I got Chelsea hovering above relegation. You know, the whole package”
Imagine what would happen to us if Cech were behind the stick of our goal during the 2006 Champions League final instead of Lehmann?
Off topic but even as a kid and believe me that was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away Arsenal always had a tradition of fans from every cultural background. I’m inordinately proud of the fact that we’re not a bunch of racist chavs and not so sad as manure fans who think the only person who can save their season is Maureen. Long live the mad dramatic irrational Arsenal way of doing things. Ain’t it beautiful ?
Wenger has had his fair share of duds but he minimised the impact to the club because in general he spent low. Contrast the sort of prices the media annointed Brendan Rodgers spent on Benteke and Firmino to show ambition. Wenger’s track record include Llungberg, Pires, Viera and even Henry at 10m! Walcott came in for 15m (Then thought a high price) Even recently he has found value in players like Koscielny and Gabriel. Not to mention he has also managed to cultivate players better from the youth system because of the exposure to quality players and experience he has… Read more »
Still remember a Chelsea fan telling me not too long ago that Moanrinho knows better and that Wenger has made a mistake with Cech.
Sure I said. 11m is a mistake…for Chelsea.:D