Unai Emery says Petr Cech is very important to Arsenal and that criticism aimed at the keeper is wide of the mark.
The 36-year-old made a series of fine stops to keep Everton at bay before goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured a 2-0 win and a first clean sheet of the season.
After the match, Emery underlined why he trusts Cech and how second choice keeper Bernd Leno can learn from the veteran this season.
“I’m very happy with the goalkeepers who are working with us, Emi, Leno and Petr,” the Spaniard told his post-game press conference.
“Petr has a big experience and a big quality. He’s started the season very well and we think he’s giving us the performance we want.
“Today he showed us that he’s very good and continuing to work hard with this spirit every day. For the other goalkeepers, it’s the same.
“They’re doing very well and are working very hard to make sure they’re ready to give the team their best performance, like Cech today.”
New signing Bernd Leno, recruited from Bayer Leverkusen for around £20 million, had been expected to start the season as Arsenal’s first choice keeper in the Premier League, but so far he’s made just one appearance in the Europa League.
In the eyes of Emery, the new boy hasn’t put a foot wrong, it’s just Cech hasn’t either, despite his teething problems learning how to build play from the back.
“I’m a little surprised [people forget his quality] because there have been a lot of questions over Cech,” he said.
“In pre-season and also in the first matches with us, he’s played with good performances.
“Bernd Leno will also improve with us and learn about this competition here. For him, he’s also doing very well and benefiting from working every day with a goalkeeper like Petr Cech.
“He’s learning from him, giving him experience and he’s watching him in games like today. Leno is a younger goalkeeper and he is coming here with a big future, but now, it’s a very competitive position. Petr Cech is very important for us.
He added: “Leno is calm and knows now that he’s working well, but also we have three goalkeepers and Petr Cech is delivering good performances.
“We are going to give them chances to play in other competitions, but we want the same performances like Petr’s. It’s good for the team, for the goalkeepers, to reward good performances.”
Cech is looking like a New man now he has some competition for his place
The criticism was from last season, not this season, especially after today’s performance.
From this I assume Martinez will be playing in midweek then
Cech’s back to his best I think. Dominant in the air, outstanding in 1-on-1s.
People forget how crucial he was two seasons ago… 7am’s ‘by the numbers’ pointed out the main reason to our defensive improvement was not the switch to a back 3 but Cech’s shot-stopping.
And the golden glove the season before.
Yes, last season he had a dip in form, but what other defender except Monreal didn’t?
Leno coming in has clearly pushed Cech. While he’ll never be on Leno’s level in terms of distribution, he has been top notch – his shot stopping has be superb and even better now.
It’s annoying we’ve had to spend 22m on a keeper for this guy to wake up..
We also got a new goalkeeping coach. This might have something to do with it as well.
I’m surprised by criticism as well. Same people who imagine Leno to be better (without evidence) are the same ones who will get on Mustafi’s back or Granit. We got a clean sheet today against a very robust side with a Cback pairing of Mustafi and Holding. We slipped two goals last game against unknown mediocre opponents but many would laud praise on Torreira and Sokratis for that match (or Elneny) We got a clean sheet today with ‘over the hill can’t play with his feet” Cech who stopped Calvert Lewin’s goal bound shot with his feet. Some critics are… Read more »
Some ppl just like to lay blame all the time. Such is life. Some complains warranted but mostly fuelled by vitriol fanned by ridiculous punditry.
pushing Leno to improve before he gets settled into any sort of comfort zone
last season, the dip in form/injury of Cech, Kos, Lacazette really blew a hole into any rhythm. That too in the face of the cacophony and hysteria. It was a rather trying time. Still we finished 6th. Shows the underlying fundamental strength.