Arsene Wenger says that Petr Cech’s recent form is evidence that the Arsenal keeper still has some years left at the top.
The former Czech international has been superb in recent weeks, perhaps his best run of games since joining the club two summers ago, and the Arsenal manager cited other players who have gone on to play well into their late 30s as an example.
Cech, who turned 35 yesterday, is far from finished, according to Wenger.
“You have examples like Edwin van der Sar, who had similar stature, who played until 40 and played until 40 with top-quality performances,” he said. “So yes, I think Petr has a few more years left,” the manager said.
“He has recently been very sharp. We have three world-class goalkeepers in my opinion and that maintains the focus of everybody. Petr has recently had some great performances.
“He’s highly focused and very professional. You do not make a career like he has made by coincidence. All that of course is always a consequence of the attitude to be a winner, the attitude every day to push yourself.
“Overall I think it’s fantastic to have people like that at the club.”
Hopefully he’s not too busy today against Everton (read the Arseblog preview here), and it’d be fantastic if he were to contribute to an FA Cup win against his old club next weekend.
He’s woken up a bit in the past few matches, hasn’t he? I have a feeling he will be kept first choice for the PL next season and Szczesny as back-up and playing in Champions League.
Arsene said we aren’t going to make any goal keeper signings but I think a new goalkeeping coach, particularly one who has advice on penalties, would be a shrewd addition. For a few years now, our keepers haven’t exactly gushed about the goalkeeping staff and it maybe time to get newer personnel.
I’ve never understood this idea of rotating keepers. I get that Wenger wants to keep Ospina happy and that’s why he’s been the cup keeper. That said Cech is clearly a better keeper = why he starts in the Premier League. How can we genuinely expect to compete in competitions like the Champions League if we don’t even play our best players?
For years we have stuggled with second goalkeepers of poor standard coming in and derailing our season. With the luck we have with injuries it’s always going to happen.
This method makes sure we have 2 quality keepers. Ospina has been great when he has been called upon so I don’t think we can have too many complaints with not being able to compete in the Champions League because of this.
A lot of that though was due to Wenger’s inability to buy proper keepers coupled with his philosophy of not bringing in competition less he derail the career of a promising players. If the goal of a football club is to compete and win I don’t see how not playing our best players in the knock out rounds makes any sense- no other major club does this (Barcelona did for two years but they had 2 genuine top keepers and no longer do it)
I disagree. Many players will only join or stay after a season if they can play every week. If Barcelona had kept Bravo or Ter Stegen they would have rotated or had to sell one of the two
Champion’s league. Haha. Good one.
Let’s see him and Schchchchnyyy battle for the #1 jersey next season!
I know, using # as ‘number’ reveals I’m old.
I’d love to see him save a pen though!
Seriously, get scezney back and that’s a solid double act, and in cech the ultimate pro to support him and make him the finished article.
Coaching is what mainly makes players become the finished article. Competition is also needed, but I have a serious problem with the idea that all a player need is some other player to learn from.
Sad to hear that you have a serious problem with the positive influence that mentoring of junior players by senior professionals can have in any sports team or company for that matter.
Exactly what I was going to say goonerrific, thumbs up old bean!
He’s been nothing but a model professional for us and has a wealth of experience to pass on to whomever will be his understudy/rival for the jersey next season.
Honestly, to go all those years at Chelsea and come out the other side ‘uncunty’ is alright by me..plus he’s a fellow drummer so he gets an extra point.
Do we loan out Emy Martinez too, so that he can achieve that Extra zing and become another finished article. Certainly helped Szczesny.Our goalkeeper coaches certainly aren’t as World class as the players from the look of it.
unfortunately you have no more years left in you Arsene.
Well that just might be a message to Szczesney, telling him he’ll have to battle it out with Cech if he wants to come here. I don’t think Szeczesny is a bench player anymore, he probably will seek a move to a different club to be number 1. If he managed to be a number 1 for Roma, who are just a few points away from Juve, I suspect he can easily move to whole bunch of clubs to play as number 1
Form definitely has improved last few weeks but do think we could do with a change in goalkeeping coach. And while we are on the topic of goalkeepers, like blogs I’m also looking forward to the brad guzan nightmare today ?
A few more years maybe, but not at the top level. A strong defence may make him look better than he is though.
He won’t have to worry about that at the Arse then. Hahaha
You think he’s going to play the cup final? You just know Wenger will drop him for Ospina, that’s just the kind of idiotic think that Wenger is infamous for…
I’m quite certain Cech will play the final. It isn’t about keeping Ospina happy anymore. The club knows Ospina is leaving anyways