Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted that his side have not been good enough on a number of occasions this season as they look to make a swift return to the Champions League.
The Gunners sit down in sixth position in the Premier League, five points from their desired top-four spot, but could also earn a backdoor entry to the CL should they win the Europa League this term.
Arsenal cannot rely on winning a cup competition to earn their spot however, with luck needed as well as skill to win any knock-out tournament, and we simply must up our form in the division to try and achieve a top-four spot.
Petr Cech insists that Arsenal deserve to be in Europe’s elite footballing competition, having missed out on entry only once since Arsene Wenger joined the club, but admits that his side have not been good enough on a number of occasions this season.
“We are a club that belongs in the Champions League, so obviously you don’t want to spend years outside of the Champions League,” Cech said.
“Every year, the fight for the top four spots becomes harder and harder because the league is very competitive.
“This season, we have had games where we are playing very well, but we had so many games where we were not up to the standard that we need to be and this is something we need to address for the rest of the season.
“We should have had far more points than we have in this moment.”
Can Arsenal still make the top-four? Is our squad good enough to make the climb above our rivals at present?
Pat J
So, in a nutshell – not playing consistently well enough! Hardly a major insight by an expert.
Why bother to repeat this ‘non-information’?
How about he ( CECH ) Start saving penalties for us in games as he has never saved ANY for us before and also he’s been committing school boy error plus his kicks has been AWFUL as well this season
It would be a start were he to stop constantly diving the wrong way. Never known a supposed top keeper so hopeless at pens.
I think it is better and easier to play safe than expecting keeper to save penalty.
Put your opponent under perpetual pressure keeps your team off conceding PK. Instead you win more penalties.
Check Barcelona PK records
To quote Cech: “We should have had far more points than we have in this moment”. Well no Gooner would argue with that but what about asking him HOW we could have got those extra points? Getting some defenders who CAN actually defend would be one way. Getting in a new manager who actually knows that we even need a proper defence would also be another way. There is a third way too, involving a new keeper, but I CAN’T EXPECT HIM TO ACCEPT THAT , NOW CAN I?
Jon that quote could have been from any of the last few seasons. How often have we not heard how determined this team and manager was to be consistent?
If they had it in them as a group (manager + players) to be more consistent the would have become more consistent. IMO consistency is more mental than physical and I don’t see us have the mental toughness or winners attitude to want to win every game no matter who we play.
The top four position seems to be highly improbable to be achieved, because Liverpool and Tottenham are consistent. Europa League is very tough, but Arsenal could have more luck in there.
EL better chance than PL to qualify for CL but EL still a long shot IMO.
agreed athletico with costa back
napoli playing excellently
hope they play each other
We would be in the champions league spot if you could save the ball Cech is as agile as my 80 yr old gran
A team defends as a team starting from the front.Lacazette does this consistently.Tha fact we haven’t got Sanchez giving the ball away and losing possession will be a good start.This was definitely the case for the first 45 minutes against Palace and helped us against Chelski.
Cech been poor in some games but hard build confidence when defending is not up scratch simple I think we need new keeper in summer but there’s another season in Cech just need fix defending ?