Arsenal boss Unai Emery defends Petr Cech selection vs Manchester City

Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge13 August 2018

Unai Emery defended his decision to start Petr Cech over Bernd Leno in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in their Premier League opener.

Cech, 36, endured a performance of highs but several more lows as the Gunners slipped to a disappointing defeat in Emery’s first match in charge.

Whilst he made several excellent saves, most notably a one-on-one with Sergio Aguero but also swift reaction blocks denying Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte, the veteran goalkeeper might feel he could have done better with City’s opener.

Sterling’s powerful drive might have been denied if Cech had managed to put a glove out in time, but the shot-stopper offered little to block City’s opener.

It nearly went from bad to worse for Cech soon after, when he nearly passed the ball into his own net as he looked to square the ball to where he might have expected his right-back to be.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Manchester City | 12/08/2018

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Meanwhile, £22million summer signing Leno was only watching on from the bench - a decision that Emery has no regrets over.

“We want competence with the goalkeeper and the other players in the squad,” Emery said. “The pre-season offered the same chances for all the goalkeepers.

“Petr Cech had a very good pre-season. Today I think he played well also and he has this experience to defend our goal.

“Leno is starting with us, working very well and also played well in pre-season. But he can wait and arrive in his moment.”

A summer signing that did make it on the pitch was 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi, the £8m addition from Lorient who was arguably the star of Arsenal’s pre-season.

Though there were several clumsy errors early in the game, Guendouzi grew into the contest, providing more passes than any of his team-mates.

Getty Images

"It's his first match here in the Premier League,” Emery said. “He has personality and quality and if he is on the pitch he is improving very quickly.”

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