Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Cardiff City: 5 things we learned – The Lacazette lesson

By Andrew Dowdeswell

CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 02: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal scores his team's third goal past Neil Etheridge of Cardiff City during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Arsenal FC at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 02: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal scores his team's third goal past Neil Etheridge of Cardiff City during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Arsenal FC at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Petr Cech of Arsenal applauds fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Petr Cech of Arsenal applauds fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

3. Time to replace Petr Cech?

Unai Emery is insistent on his team playing out from the back. I have no problems with that — in fact, I think it’s a good thing. In doing so, he will very quickly learn what players are capable of playing in such a style and what players aren’t.

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As has been painfully illustrated throughout the first four games of the season, and especially so on this occasion, Petr Cech is not a goalkeeper that is comfortable with the ball at his feet. In fairness to Cech, it makes sense that he isn’t. It’s not something that he’s ever done in his career before. Teaching a 36-year-old dog new tricks is not easy.

But while in other positions where Emery is using players who do not necessarily fit what he wants to do but he has not replacement to turn to, in the case of Cech, Arsenal handily invested £20 million on a new goalkeeper in the summer, one with the precise abilities of being able to partake in possession.

Bernd Leno has grown up with the style that Emery is attempting to impress on Cech. He should be better at it. He is better at it. It might be time to replace Cech.