Cech can reinvent his game Emery

Unai Emery insists Petr Cech can reinvent his game to become a ball-playing goalkeeper after the Arsenal goalkeeper endured more jitters in a 3-2 victory over Cardiff.

Emery is seeking to impose a high pressing game at Arsenal where the goalkeeper is expected to be assured in possession and build play from the back, but Cech demonstrated anxiety in early season games against Manchester City and West Ham – and his errors nearly cost Arsenal against Cardiff.

Inside the first minute of the game, Cech was almost dispossessed in his own six yard box by Cardiff’s Bobby Reid, and then a pass across his own goalmouth was a whisker away from being intercepted by Danny Ward.

Cech later passed the ball straight to Harry Arter who blasted over with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock admitted afterwards he asked his players to unsettle Cech by applying pressure.

‘We had a lot of plans that came off today,’ Warnock said. ‘That enabled us to get the crowd going. It gave us the confidence to get further forward.’

Warnock joked he would not ask his own goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to become a sweeper-keeper.

‘To nutmeg somebody?,’ Warnock laughed. ‘That will be the next thing. The Liverpool guy (Alisson) is that confident! The chip he did last week… Etheridge would fall over if he did that. We don’t get into that here.’

Emery, however, remains insistent that 36-year-old Cech can re-develop his style and become comfortable with the system. Arsenal also have £19.2m summer signing Bernd Leno, known for his ball-playing capabilities, waiting in the wings on the bench.

Emery said: ‘For me each game is progress. Petr has experience, he is intelligent, he is doing it how we want in building up our work on the pitch. It is very important for me to continue doing this and improving. If you play long balls every time, you lose your personality and you lose moments on the pitch.

‘We take a little risk. When you break this risk, and break through their pressing, you can find the space for attacking position. It is clear you can make a mistake, but we need to continue with this personality.’

Arsenal thrilled going forwards, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both scored stunning goals on their first start together this season, while Shkodran Mustafi opened the scoring with a thumping header. Yet Arsenal were once again suspect defensively, conceding 14 shots on goal and Victor Camarasa and Ward both scored equalisers for Cardiff.

Warnock, however, says he did not see much difference between Emery’s team and the Wenger era.

‘Not a lot of difference. I used to get in Arsene’s face as well. Nothing changes really. At my age I just want to enjoy watching the team. I said to the fourth official on 75 minutes; “Great game, this.”

‘Football is too negative at times. I can’t remember how many times I had my head in my hands today. We had a lot of chances and we won’t be last on Match of the Day tonight.’

Warnock also insisted his job to keep Cardiff up is tougher than Emery’s at Arsenal. ‘Absolutely. I have the hardest job in the Premier League. I’d like to see some of them managing this.’

-Courtesy Dailymail