If John Terry’s calculations are right, Arsenal will win the Premier League next season.
The Chelsea captain estimates that former team-mate Petr Cech will single-handedly earn the Gunners as many as 15 points over the course of a campaign, and last term that would have been enough to see them leapfrog the Blues.
Cech, then, will surely prove the signing of the summer. For even if Arsenal do not emerge as champions, the goalkeeper will bring a guaranteed improvement.
Ignore the cynics who applaud Chelsea’s return of £11million on a 33-year-old, for Cech’s best years could yet be ahead of him.
Manchester United signed Edwin van der Sar at 34 and the four-time Premier League champion remains the only stopper who has come close to filling Peter Schmeichel’s gloves.
And don’t forget, Cech will cross London fit and fresh having spent the bulk of last season watching Thibaut Courtois keep goal for Chelsea – there is no shame in that, of course, given the quality of the young Belgian.
But Cech deserves to be No 1. Had Courtois not emerged at Stamford Bridge, Cech would have manned the posts for the league winners with equal efficiency. Indeed, he certainly wouldn’t be departing for £11m this summer.
Arsene Wenger, though, has taken advantage of the circumstance. Come September 1, you will do well to point to a piece of business which represents better pounds-for-points value.
But what makes it all the more appealing for Arsenal is that a problem position has at last found solution.
Every Arsenal goalkeeper of recent seasons – from Wojciech Szczesny to Manuel Almunia – has cost the Gunners points. We talk of a soft centre, flaky forwards and luxury playmakers as the reasons why Arsenal’s title challenge stutters year on year.
But look at the list of Premier League champions – every one of them boasts a top stopper. Sadly, the likes of Szczesny and Almunia do not win teams titles. Cech does.
His arrival at Chelsea in 2004 did not ‘coincide’ with back-to-back league victories, it was the catalyst for them.
Cech’s influence does not end with four league crowns either, there are both Champions League and Europa League winners' medals, not to mention four FA Cups and three League Cups.
In a list of the Premier League’s greatest goalkeepers, he would probably be bookended by Schmeichel and Van der Sar.
David Seaman might have something to say about that, however, but Cech has the potential (yes, even at 33) to rival his achievements in an Arsenal jersey.
Were he to prove the difference in returning the club’s first Premier League title in 12 years, the Czech’s legend would be guaranteed.
Yes, further addition is still needed, but Cech’s ability, experience and personality feels like a game-changing coup for Wenger.
The Chelsea captain estimates that former team-mate Petr Cech will single-handedly earn the Gunners as many as 15 points over the course of a campaign, and last term that would have been enough to see them leapfrog the Blues.
Cech, then, will surely prove the signing of the summer. For even if Arsenal do not emerge as champions, the goalkeeper will bring a guaranteed improvement.
Ignore the cynics who applaud Chelsea’s return of £11million on a 33-year-old, for Cech’s best years could yet be ahead of him.
Manchester United signed Edwin van der Sar at 34 and the four-time Premier League champion remains the only stopper who has come close to filling Peter Schmeichel’s gloves.
And don’t forget, Cech will cross London fit and fresh having spent the bulk of last season watching Thibaut Courtois keep goal for Chelsea – there is no shame in that, of course, given the quality of the young Belgian.
But Cech deserves to be No 1. Had Courtois not emerged at Stamford Bridge, Cech would have manned the posts for the league winners with equal efficiency. Indeed, he certainly wouldn’t be departing for £11m this summer.
Arsene Wenger, though, has taken advantage of the circumstance. Come September 1, you will do well to point to a piece of business which represents better pounds-for-points value.
But what makes it all the more appealing for Arsenal is that a problem position has at last found solution.
Every Arsenal goalkeeper of recent seasons – from Wojciech Szczesny to Manuel Almunia – has cost the Gunners points. We talk of a soft centre, flaky forwards and luxury playmakers as the reasons why Arsenal’s title challenge stutters year on year.
But look at the list of Premier League champions – every one of them boasts a top stopper. Sadly, the likes of Szczesny and Almunia do not win teams titles. Cech does.
His arrival at Chelsea in 2004 did not ‘coincide’ with back-to-back league victories, it was the catalyst for them.
Cech’s influence does not end with four league crowns either, there are both Champions League and Europa League winners' medals, not to mention four FA Cups and three League Cups.
In a list of the Premier League’s greatest goalkeepers, he would probably be bookended by Schmeichel and Van der Sar.
David Seaman might have something to say about that, however, but Cech has the potential (yes, even at 33) to rival his achievements in an Arsenal jersey.
Were he to prove the difference in returning the club’s first Premier League title in 12 years, the Czech’s legend would be guaranteed.
Yes, further addition is still needed, but Cech’s ability, experience and personality feels like a game-changing coup for Wenger.
