Petr Cech: I can make the difference to Arsenal title bid
Goalkeeper Petr Cech believes his defection from champions Chelsea can help London rivals Arsenal end their 12-year wait for another Premier League title.
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The Gunners have not claimed England’s top prize since 2004 and failed to mount a sustained challenge last season, finishing third after recovering from a dismal start.
But Cech, 33, hopes his arrival, having completed a £10m transfer and signed a four-year contract yesterday, will see Arsene Wenger’s team dethrone his former Stamford Bridge team-mates.
“It is an exciting time for me,” he said. “It is a project where Arsenal fans and the club have been waiting for the Premier League title and this is a chance for me to bring my experience and my little extra to the team and we can possibly achieve that.”
Cech admitted the decision to leave Chelsea, where he won four league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and both major European club trophies in 11 years had been “probably the hardest decision”.
In a twist, he is likely to make his first significant appearance for Arsenal against the Blues in the Community Shield on 2 August.
“I think the script couldn’t have been written in a better way for the fans because this will be one of the days [that is] very exciting and very strange at the same time,” the Czech international added.
Gunners manager Wenger called Cech “one of the outstanding keepers in the world”. the Frenchman added: “Petr is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us.”