Sunday 20 December 2015 09:10, UK
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits Petr Cech’s performances since his summer arrival from Chelsea have made him regret not snapping up the goalkeeper years earlier.
Cech has been sensational for Arsenal this term and his shut-out against Aston Villa last weekend saw him draw level with David James for the record number of Barclays Premier League clean sheets, on 169.
Wenger says he has been left wondering what might have been had he managed to sign the Czech Republic international before his move from Ligue 1 side Rennes to Chelsea in 2004.
"I think he has brought his experience and his calm and his leadership as well," he said.
"Sometimes it comes to my mind that it makes me just think that I missed him when he was at Rennes, and how that could have changed for us if we had signed him in that period.
"What I say could be a bit detrimental to David Ospina, and I don't want to be because he was exceptional last year, but Petr Cech, he has done it all.
"He is someone who gives you an aura, a charisma that is always important in the big games for the players.
He went to Chelsea from Rennes and we could have been quicker maybe on the day than Chelsea.
"You always look around you in the dressing room before a big game and you think, 'Are we strong enough?' And these kind of faces help you to believe it.
"He went to Chelsea from Rennes and we could have been quicker maybe on the day than Chelsea. Especially because I know his agent very well."
Wenger already considers Cech to be one his best signings as Arsenal manager and says the 33-year-old stopper has the whole package as a goalkeeper.
"I think as well in the big games, the number of shots on target shrinks. But then the one save can be the difference in the end result," Wenger added.
"I met him before I signed him and we had a long discussion about the game and the job and his position.
"I was deeply impressed by his knowledge, by his professionalism, by his detailed knowledge. So since I have not been surprised, because I got the whole package in one go.
"There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper.
"I'm now 30 years in the job and I said the other day you learn over the years that the goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football - and maybe the most vital one for winning things.
"You will always have in life that the striker is better paid than the goalkeeper but at the end of the day, are they more important than the goalkeeper?"
