A keeper can understand what goes on with another keeper! Well, it may not be exactly true but former Arsenal goal keeper Jens Lehmann believes that the new signing Petr Cech has to get over his emotional bond with Chelsea if he wants to succeed at Arsenal.
The German former national keeper went on to add that Cech has to get over the fact that he joined the rivals of his old club. If he wants to see Arsenal succeed, then getting this over in his head will be a major challenge.
Lehmann is no short of experience when it comes to winning. He played for the invincibles during the 2003-04 season, when the Gunners won the Premier League title without losing a game. He believes that making the switch between major title rivals could hamper the season for the former Blues star.
The 33-year-old Cech ended association with Chelsea after spending 11 seasons at the Stamford Bridge. He joined Arsenal last month in a move that was seen by many as a clincher for Arsene Wenger.
Lehmann may be forthright in his views, but will it be a major problem? Very difficult to say at this moment but it can definitely be something for Cech to ponder over.
Moving between title rivals is not unknown in some of the other leagues – especially Italy. You observe players moving freely between Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus very frequently. But when it comes to England, the movement between title-fighting clubs is rare – or we may say, very rare!
There is no doubting the commitment levels of Cech; in fact, far from that. We all know and have seen the work ethic and commitment that Cech has put in his spell at Chelsea. Being a thorough professional, you would expect him to replicate or even go beyond those levels at the Emirates stadium.
However, it could be a psychological issue if Cech is unable to wipe it out of his mind immediately. That probably is the reason why Lehmann pointed out that a clean slate of mind will do a world of good for the new keeper.
If Cech can actually bring the same consistency level to Arsenal, it would bring a whole lot of new dynamism to the club. A safe keeper in Cech and a consistent back four led by Per Mertesacker could be the first step towards establishing a winning mentality.
What do you think? Will Cech have problems adapting to his role in a new team? Or do you think he has enough experience to cope with the mental aspect?
Sridhar