Maybe Arsenal fans should think about the old saying regarding triumph through adversity or the other one that goes ‘whatever does not kill you makes you stronger’ when it comes to our concerns over the way the pre-season training and schedule has gone for the Gunners so far.
Even Arsene Wenger admitted that a sickness bug that is affecting the touring Arsenal squad on top of a few fitness and injury problems as well as missing a few key players because of their summer international duties was not the ideal way to prepare for a new season.
Our man between the sticks Petr Cech, however, has moved to assure the Arsenal fans that the problems are not a big deal and that a tough time can actually help. The high temperatures and humidity in China is certainly making things hard for the Gunners but Cech reckons it will all be good for us in the long run, reports The Mirror.
He said, “We need to find a way to keep hydrated and you need to rest as well. The more you go on tours, the more people know what to expect so we are ready for it.
“Everybody needs to find a way. We had very good facilities in Sydney, very positive facilities in China and it’s been what we need.
“The only thing we need to do is to find a way to keep the players cool and hydrated. But we’ve had a really good workload.
“We’ve still got a few weeks and many games to play but I think we are on a good way because you can see the players getting fitter and stronger.
“We’ve done double sessions here, we keep training because the main purpose is to get fit and obviously the matches are a good test for us.
“In the games in Australia it was more about the offensive game and against Bayern we had to defend as well.
“The most important thing was to get the minutes under the belt and as well in these conditions it was very hot and humid and we had a really strong week of training, so it was good to get everybody playing and as well when you win the game it’s always more pleasant.
“It’s always good when you have done the hard work and you have a positive result.”
I don’t know if you saw but the Arsenal squad got a good lesson in having the right mentality as well, from the keeper himself. When he thought they were a little bit too pleased with the token trophy given them after beating Bayern Munich on penalties Cech admonished them and told them that the trophy they really want to lift is not that one but the Premier League. Nice one Petr!
Sam P.
Not sure how sweating your nuts off and having the trots can be positive, but …
Well, i agree with cech that we need to focus on gunning for the bigger trophies rather than celebrating on this victory tokens that we win during the friendlies..
Completely agree, it’s like spoiling a beautiful four course meal by going nuts on the M&M’s. We need to be hungry, starving, this trophy after one game is a sidetrack.
Winning is a habit !!
We should not go over the top in terms of celebrating but I guarantee if we had lost people on here would have moaned …
The focus is at the right place…but we always hear similar talk pre-season…Can they take that into the season and perform with consistency with there eyes on the prize?
A win is a win. Can take pride from fighting until the last minute to get equaliser. And having mental toughness (and some luck) to win on penalties.
Particularly good experience for youngsters
A little Diarrhoea and vomiting will only make the players a little lighter and ready for action