Petr Cech has insisted he is comfortable playing out from the back and is ready to fight for his place in Arsenal’s first-team under new manager Unai Emery.
Cech was preferred in goal to £22.5m summer signing Bernd Leno for the 2-0 loss to Manchester City at The Emirates, but was far from his best and often looked flustered in possession in the face of City’s exhaustingly high press.
That could lead to problems later on in the season given Emery’s determination to get Arsenal playing the ball out from the back, although Cech wants his critics to know that he is up to the task.
“Yes,” he replied when asked if he was comfortable playing within Emery’s new system.
“You play the best way for the team and I think that in a way if you want to dominate the game through possession you need to use every player.
“You can see at this level that one vs one is difficult to play so you need to use the goalkeeper as a spare man every time you can – that is the role of the goalkeeper.
“If you play for a team who is happy to play a long-ball and a completely different way then the keeper plays a different way – but for what we want to do I think it is going to be important.”
Against City there were however signs that this more expansive style of football will take a while to properly implement. Late on in the game Cech was almost crowded off the ball as he attempted a short pass out wide, while in the first-half there was a hair-raising moment when he very nearly kicked the ball directly into his net under little pressure.
But the 36-year-old stressed after the match that he completely understands why Arsenal must adjust their style for the new season.
“We forced them into a few mistakes with our pressing, we built up from the back and – even when we knew the pressure was coming – we managed to get out and we didn't want to give them the ball easily so they can just control the game all day,” he said.
“We set this out and I think you need to be brave to do that and carry on even when you know the pressure is coming and we managed to do so.
“There are things we obviously need to improve, the second phase to go through that build up, but overall I think it was a positive performance.”
Emery rotated both of his goalkeepers during Arsenal’s successful pre-season and admitted after his first competitive game in charge that he sees the role as no different to any other position on the pitch, and will give opportunities to both players.
And Cech admits he did not know until Saturday that he would be starting against City.
“No, yesterday I was told I was starting the game and it will be up to me how well I play and how I play the manager wants me to so we will see,” he said.
“It was a challenge and obviously I was happy to get the nod today but nothing is finished, you have to work hard to retain the spot. We all came to the pre-season to fight for the spot, every player always wants to be in the line-up and it is the same with us goalkeepers.
“If you ask Bernd he will say the same, he worked hard and fought for his place in the team and will continue to do so – I will be working hard to retain my spot.
“It is as simple as that, if you perform you have a chance to play as many games as you can and I will do that.”
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