Former England international Peter Shilton is yet to be convinced that Petr Cech can succeed at his new club Arsenal FC.
Petr Cech completed his move to Arsenal last week for a fee of A?11 million, after a lot of speculations this summer. The 33-year-old goalkeeper joined the London club after 11 successful seasons in the Premier League with the Blues.
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Cech joined Chelsea in 2004 from French club Rennes and went on to win four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and A Champions League. He is widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers to have plied his trade in England. But Peter Shilton believes that the Czech international has been helped a lot by the Chelseaa s strong defence over the years.
Peter Shilton, who is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers to have played for England, has pointed out the age of Petr Cech and questioned whether he will still be as effective if he doesna t receive the same defensive cover he was used to at Chelsea.
“He is not getting any younger. I have always rated him, he is a top quality good goalkeeper, but I’ve just thought on a few occasions that when Chelsea struggled, he struggled a bit sometimes.
“He was playing behind a really good defence at Chelsea and that gives you confidence week in, week out but if he doesna t get that cover we will see if he has that top quality and that confidence to perform.” a The Englishman told talkSPORT in an interview.
Despite Shiltona s obvious scepticism about Arsenala s defence, the Gunners have improved a lot at back in the last one year. Arsene Wengera s men conceded just four more goals than Chelsea in the league. The emergence of Francis Coquelin as a defensive midfielder, the improvement of Nacho Monreal, the return to form, and fitness, of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, contributed a lot to their wonderful run of form towards the second half of the season. Cecha s experience and organisation skill should further improve that defence next season.