Petr Cech has called the loss of Per Mertesacker a ‘big blow’ for Arsenal, but says his absence might provide a chance to one of the understudies to make his mark on the team.
The Gunners will be without the German until next year after he picked up a knee injury, and the Arsenal keeper believes his experience and quality will be missed.
Speaking to ESPN on the US tour, he said, “He is a great player, a great part of the team with his experience.
“You cannot just replace a world champion winner just like that because obviously the experience of him, the games he played and he’s one of the captains. That says it all.
“Hopefully we will be able to start the season well and once he’s fit he will come back, in a position where we all want to be.”
Arsenal have signed 20 year old Rob Holding from Bolton, and do have Calum Chambers now in his third season at the club, and the 34 says it’s up to them to take their chance if it’s given to them.
“With Per out, the challenge and the possibilities for every central defender is bigger,” he said. “It’s up to Holding how he’s going to play and how he’s going to work.
“The same is true for Gabriel and Calum Chambers. This is their moment to show the manager they are up to the task.”
Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger is on record saying he’s looking for a more experienced player in the transfer market, and Cech has backed him to get the right man in.
“I think you need to be buy players you need, you need to buy players that will improve the team and not to buy players just for buying,” he continued.
“That’s the philosophy of the club. I’ve been here since last season and you can see that every time we bring in a player, it’s a player we need, and the manager believes he improves the team.”
It’s one of the pities of the modern game that there is so little room for risk taking. In years gone by, Calum Chambers would have been deemed more than good enough for the first team and he would have grown through the very experience of being thrust in. Look at Tony Adams. He made a few high profile errors through inexperience when he was first in the side, but his potential was obvious so we persevered with him and he became one of the most respected central defenders in the game. I guess what I’m saying is how are… Read more »
That’s a good point. It is a shame. Mertesacker, despite his pace issues sometimes being exposed, would be the optimal choice for a younger, quicker player like Chambers and Holding to play alongside for many reasons. Merty’s injury is a real shame. While I do think we needed to sign a more experienced and established centre half anyway, I wouldn’t refer to his injury as a ‘blessing in disguise’ either.
Good points but I would say its less risk aversion and more the need to secure instant results in a highly critical climate. If you have a “tried and tested” pro and he balls up theres less blame on the manager. Arsenal fans in particular go apeshit if a rookie costs us a game (as they have been blamed so many times)
No surprises that a puppet would think like that. Only a true puppet would play under a twat like Mourinho so happily for so long.
Your lack of respect is is appalling
Poor Cech is sounding like Wenger already. Last season, it was a defender that fucked our season up from the start and if the same thing happens this season, then, I’ll…I’ll..I’ll…well, I’ll remain an Arsenal supporter like I’ve always been. Who am I kidding?
I think lack of goals ruined our season, not the defensive part. Our attacking was toothless in the second half of the season.
we were on fire creatively, just nothing hit the back of the net.
‘On fire creatively’ is a little off the mark. Ozil made a tonne of chances aaaand that’s about it. We really missed Santi in the creative areas last season.
How about Leicester’s Morgan. He’s Mature and Strong. He could have a buy-out clause.
To be honest, if we cant get vardy, theres no way we are getting their captain. Would make his comments about vardy already being at a big club look rather silly.
He called Leicester a big club. That’s already rather silly.
they are the reigning PL champions with history…
I wouldnt call them huge but they are now a big(ish) club again….
Though I may have to take that back if they dont keep it up this season!
Oh please!!! Morgan what?
This isn’t FIFA.
Buying the right player is definitely important. But I feel there isn’t enough importance given to the timing of bringing in the player.
The importance of getting the right player is lost when you don’t get him in time. We have taken 5 seasons to fill that striker position, which isn’t ideal for a club of our size.
Have the Scott Dann rumours started yet? Ive been in hiding until we sign another player….
Christopher Samba. That is all.
Hes right we did need kim kallstrom.
Well on paper we needed a midfielder at that time. Although I don’t think Wenger realised how badly injured Kallstrom was at the time.
He did score a spot kick in THAT semi-final shootout against Wigan, didn’t he?
He didn’t play a lot (that’s an understatement) but when he came on he was precious, full of energy, commited, very few mistakes. Would have made a fair Arsenal player if bought younger
Just a wild theory: maybe Wenger does want to spend big going into his last season. With all this talk about his willingness to manage England and unwillingnes to sign an extension, it might have infuriated the likes of Kroenke and Gazidis. That might explain why they don’t want to give the funds and why we have mixed messages from Wenger and Kroenke’s puppet.
Simpler theory: Kroenke bought Arsenal purely as an investment. He’d like Arsenal to spend as little as possible, while still staying in the top 4. If anything, I think the prospect of losing Wenger might convince him of loosening the purse strings. Replacing Wenger would be tricky, and there would be a real chance of getting it wrong like Man Utd did with Moyes and Van Gaal. Man Utd has invested incredible sums over the last 3 seasons, just to try and get back anywhere near to where they were under Ferguson. It’s a fate Silent Stan would surely want… Read more »
Spoken like the Captain i’m sure he will get promoted to this season in BFG’s absence. Towing the line inch perfect.
‘I’ve been here since last season and you can see that every time we bring in a player, it’s a player we need, and the manager believes he improves the team.’
Who exactly have we brought in since Cech’s arrival that’s been a player we need, that improves the team?
Elneny. Xhaka.
(+ Holding and Asano)
The crazy part of his statement is that he acknowledges the fact that his previous *!§$% team brought players that were not needed
Big Pete speaks a lot of sense. He always seems to be there when the players need a lift.
Let’s hope Per returns in time to help us win the league.
Sorry Petr to bring this message to you, we don’t do the transfer thing, we’re short of money.
No no. We have the most money of any football club in the world. We’re just not interested in winning.
Hey Gays,
Why don’t we go buy Bony from Man C? They don’t need him and he might be relatively cheap.
All this talk of lacazette is troubling considering lyon are asking 40 mil for him. I would rather get mahrez for 38 mil and sign some average forward to complement girould when he goes into his usual goal scoring drought than spend that much on lacazette. Looks like walcott is staying with us for another year. he is poor but we should try to give him a last shot at a striker role if he is staying than spending all that money on a player that didnt get ahead of giroud on the france squad. In ideal world we would… Read more »
“I think you need to be buy players you need, you need to buy players that will improve the team and not to buy players just for buying,” I like Petr so much, and have crazy respect for him. Don’t care that he played for Chavs for so long, as he is such a class act that a mob guy like Abramovich let him sign for a local rival. However, this part of his statement is worrying to me, although it sounds logical. He sounds like Wenger, with the crazy cautious approach to transfers. Like he is justifying us not… Read more »
If you don’t spend your time imagining the worst is being said between the lines then you won’t get so worried.
I’ll worry when Cech starts saying “Who needs new players? We’ve got more than enough already”
Ashley Williams was awesome playing for Wales in the Euros with his arm hanging off. That’s the kind of commitment we need.
Whose arm needs puling off to make them play better for us then?
If we threatened some of them with that it might help …