The Czech Republic worldwide, 33, spent 11 very successful years with Chelsea, notably winning four Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League, before crossing London to join Arsenal during the close season.
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When Petr Cech produced a full length diving save at Stoke on Sunday to deny Joselu before scrambling to his feet to smother Bojan’s follow-up, his value to Arsenal was at its most visible.
With Arsenal top of the table, Cech has the chance to win the title in successive seasons with different clubs.
Cech recently set a new record for the number of clean sheets kept in the Barclays Premier League and will no doubt take his place between the posts when his former club visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League.
“He has a calming presence, he communicates well, anticipates well, sees what is coming”, he said. “He is a kind of coach”, Wenger said of Cech.
Wenger revealed he had to contemplate Cech’s signing because of how highly he regards Ospina but said he would have been wrong not to grasp the opportunity.
Cech or Courtois: Who’s the better goalkeeper?
“A camera behind the team” – that is the charming imagery offered by Arsène Wenger in describing his signing of the season, goalkeeper Petr Cech.
“There were a lot of people saying it was probably the end and that I would not play again”, he said.
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Arsenal goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson yesterday insisted Blues skipper John Terry had under-estimated the value of Cech, when he said he could be worth 12-15 points. “I think Arsenal are really really close”, says Wilson. “And you need a top-class goalkeeper to do well”. “He knows… how to stay consistent and, to get information, advice and opinions from him makes us stronger”, Mertesacker told the club’s website. As Wilson puts it: “I think the Chelsea fans will applaud him until the day they die”.
