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Why Petr Cech Is The Solution To Arsenal’s Goalkeeping Woes
By Nasra Osman
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that Arsenal has not had a suitable replacement in goal since David Seaman’s departure to Manchester City in 2003.
In between now and then, several goalkeepers have come and gone, from the much maligned Manuel Almunia to liability turned FA Cup hero Lukasz Fabianski. However, none of them were able to successfully make the goalkeeping position their own during their time at the club. Even now, it is not clear that either David Ospina or Wojciech Szczesny are the right choices in goal to lead the club to Premier League supremacy.
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Enter Petr Cech.
The unexpected signing of the 33-year-old former Chelsea man signifies a change of culture in North London, and a positive one at that.
For too long, the goalkeeping position has been the most problematic for Arsenal. Not a single stopper that has passed through the club could remedy it, to the point where it has become somewhat of a phenomenon. I have heard Arsenal fans say time and time again that they do not feel 100 percent comfortable no matter who is in goal, and I can’t say I disagree with them.
With Cech coming in as the undisputed number one keeper, there are a plethora of reasons to feel as though the days of conceding silly goals are over.
Above all else, Cech is a proven winner. From multiple Premier League titles, to the FA Cup and even the Champions League, Chelsea won them all with Cech in net. He brings a winning mentality to a team that hasn’t won much in the past few years. That alone is invaluable to the club. He also brings with him the years of experience that come with being one of the world’s best goalkeepers, which will undoubtedly be an advantage for Szczesny.
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Arsene Wenger will almost certainly have bought Cech in not only to ensure stability for Arsenal at the back, but also to act as a mentor for the young goalkeeper. One of the reasons Szczesny has failed to become Arsenal’s first choice keeper is because he lacks a bit of maturity and experience. With Cech now at the club, he can use his knowledge to shape Szczesny into a player that is worthy of being Arsenal’s main man in net for years to come.
Make no mistake, the signing of the Czech international is a huge statement of intent by Arsenal’s boardroom staff. It insinuates that the years of sub-par goalkeeping at the club will no longer cut it. Having Cech in goal will give the rest of the team confidence in knowing that its last line of defence is one that is difficult to get past.
Even though the transfer window is still open, there is not a signing that can top that of Cech, simply due to the fact that Arsenal has addressed the area of the squad that has had a question mark hovering over it for the past twelve seasons. Gone are the days of the unpredictability of a Jens Lehmann, or the incomprehensible gaffes of a Lukasz Fabianski.
With Cech, the Arsenal goal is quite literally in safe hands.
Next: Alexandre Lacazette finally feasible?