According to Arsenal fans, Petr Cech is not as good or as fast as he was in previous seasons as age catches up with the ex-Chelsea shotstopper, and it is particularly galling that he has never saved a penalty in all the time he has been at the Emirates. There has been much discussion about possible replacements for Cech, but now Wenger has come out made it clear that he thinks that Petr is fitter and always keeps himself in perfect condition.
“He gets older, we all do that,” Le Prof said. “But I think he is fitter than ever. He puts a lot of attention into the preparation. He is slimmer than before. I think he benefits from that.
“He has lost some weight. Not too much, two, three kilos only. But it’s a lot if you want to make a horse lose a race, you put a jockey with one or two kilos more on the back, and the horse is quite big.
“He looks after his whole lifestyle because he feels better and because he wants to be at the best. Petr Cech is a perfectionist. And you don’t make a career he has made if you have not that obsession, always to be at your best.
“I remember Edwin Van der Sar at Manchester United, I compare them. They are intelligent, they have great similar size, similar quality. And Van der Sar stopped at the end because he decided to stop. Because Manchester United wanted him to stay one more year longer. I don’t rule out [Cech playing until he is 40], but that will only be down to the performances.”
Considering Cech is only just approaching his 36th birthday, it would appear that Wenger is not even considering a replacement for Cech any time in the near future, despite the fans misgivings.
Do you think he can keep being Number One for many years to come?
Darren N