Petr Cech insists Arsenal have strength in depth to pip rivals to Premier League title

The Gunners have not suffered defeat since the opening day defeat to Liverpool and Cech says they are primed to go all the way and win the league.

Petr Cech insists Arsenal now have the strength in depth to win the league.

The Gunners came up short last season, pipping enemies Tottenham on the final day to finish as runners-up.

But the summer additions of Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez have helped convince Cech that this could be Arsenal's year.

Goalkeeper Cech said: "When we were unlucky with long-term injuries last season, we had to use the same players in so many games and you lack energy in certain parts of the season.

"We dropped points because we couldn't rotate. This season we have strength in depth, you could see in the Champions League and domestic cup [games] and for the Premier League we keep using different players or can use the same players.

Cech says the likes of Xhaka have helped them

Mustafi has been a revelation for the Gunners

"The manager has this choice and I think we are benefitting so far. Everybody looks fit and ready to go game-by-game.

"I think we are as strong as anybody else in the league.

"The league is very competitive but I think we are one of the teams who has all the qualities to compete for the title and we know that."

More games: friv

Courtois hints at Chelsea exit amid Real Madrid rumours

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has hinted he wants to return to LaLiga within the next three years.

Thibaut Courtois has suggested he could leave Chelsea for a return to Spain amid claims Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on his situation.

The Belgium international, 24, previously enjoyed a successful spell in LaLiga on loan at Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2014, lifting the title in his final campaign before returning to Stamford Bridge.

Courtois replaced Petr Cech as Chelsea's number one in 2014-15, winning the Premier League under Jose Mourinho, but his future may lie away from west London. 

"I still love Spain, for the way Madrid is and the entire country. I loved Spain right from the start because of the people, the way of life, the food. I still have a siesta every day," Courtois told Marca.

"When I left Spain, I knew that I would return one day. I still have a contract with Chelsea for three more seasons. We will make a decision on whether I will leave Chelsea or sign a renewal when I enter the last year of my contract in 2018.

"I don't know anything [about alleged Madrid interest] apart from what I read in the papers. But I think a lot of clubs are keeping tabs on me because of my profile. I can adapt to any style of play at any club.

"But what I do know is that Real Madrid showed me a very nice gesture. When I injured my knee [in 2015], they sent me a fax to wish me a speedy recovery."

Courtois has kept one clean sheet in five Premier League appearances this term.

Petr Cech comments on Arsenal’s summer transfer policy

Petr Cech has his say on Arsenal's summer transfer policy under Arsene Wenger.

Petr Cech has backed Arsene Wenger to make the right transfer decisions for Arsenal in the summer window.

The north London side have been linked with a host of big-name players in recent weeks but have thus far only signed midfielder Granit Xhaka, defender Rob Holding and striker Takuma Asano.

Wenger is thought to be on the lookout for a new striker as he bids to prepare his squad for the new Premier League season.

The Gunners came in for plenty of criticism last term after failing to sustain a Premier League title challenge as they ended up 10 points behind champions Leicester City and without a trophy.

However, while Cech feels that money must be spent this summer, the goalkeeper stressed that it is only worth buying players who will actually improve the squad.

Speaking in an interview with ESPN FC, Cech said: “I think you need to buy players you need.

“You need to buy players that will improve the team and not to buy players just for buying. That’s the philosophy of the club.”

Arsenal have not won the Premier League title since their unbeaten triumph in the 2003-04 season.

English Premier League Says Brexit Will Not Harm Its Appeal

London: The Premier League said Britain's decision to leave the European Union will not harm the prestige of the world's most popular domestic soccer competition but experts warned on Friday of long-term damage to football's transfer system.

The free movement of players around Europe, a legacy of the seminal 1995 Bosman ruling, together with huge television revenues raked in by Premier League clubs have made England the destination of choice for many of Europe's top players.

Last season, according to Sky Sports, 432 players from EU countries were registered to play in the 20-team Premier League.

Although they will not be affected immediately, Britain's eventual exit could spell trouble.

The Premier League said it would not try to second guess all the implications of Brexit until the dust settled on a seismic day for Britain on which Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be standing down.

"The Premier League is a hugely successful sporting competition that has strong domestic and global appeal," a spokesman said in a statement.

"This will continue to be the case regardless of the referendum result," he added.

"Clearly, we will continue to work with Government and other bodies whatever the outcome of any process."

Currently players from outside the EU have to meet certain requirements before being granted work permits such as having played 30 percent of games in the two years prior to moving.

The signing of young players could also be affected as FIFA's rule that players aged under 18 cannot be transferred across borders would be applied to Britain.

Presently, it is against EU rules to restrict the movement of people aged 16-18. Arsenal are one club to benefit from that exemption, signing Spaniard Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona when he was 16.

Premier League clubs could find themselves missing out to German, Spanish and Italian clubs in the hunt for young talent.

Arsenal keeper Petr Cech, a veteran of 12 years in the Premier League having also played for Chelsea, reacted angrily to the news on Twitter.

"It looks like the biggest decision in the history of this country was made based on fake campaign and lies," he said.

FA chairman Greg Dyke, however, said Brexit could actually help English players get more opportunities.

"One of my concerns in my period as chairman has been the decline in the opportunities for kids at the bigger clubs to get through and into the first team -- very few make it," he told Sky Sports.

"If anything happens that gives them better chances, then I welcome it."

Simon Boyes, a lecturer in sports law at Nottingham Trent University, said Brexit could mean clubs struggle to meet quotas for overseas players as EU players would be included.

"Sports regulators would no longer be prevented by EU law from discriminating against EU nationals by including them in quotas or limits on the number of 'foreign' players in a team or squad," Boyes said.

"Even were an EU national granted a work-permit in the UK, they might still be limited by restrictions on foreign players."

Hiddink to recall Drogba, Cech

Outgoing Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink wants to bring back Cote d’Ivoire legendary striker Didier Drogba, and goalkeeper Petr Cech to the London club. 

Didier Drogba The Dutch-born mentor has also confirmed that he’s staying with the Blues after leading the English Premier League giants to a 10th place finish. 

Hiddink will stay put at Stamford Bridge as an adviser where he will focus his energy on promoting youngsters to the senior team. 

The former PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands tactician was roped in by the Blues for a second stint following the departure of Jose Mourinho, during the worst title defence in Premier League history.

The 69-year-old revealed all, adding that he has talked to both Drogba and Cech. “I have spoken with Didier Drogba. I spoke with Peter Cech. 

These are legends,” said Hiddink. “They have had much impact here. Once they are really finished their playing career, they can be of great value to the club, such as assistant or scout.” 

The 2014/15 EPL champions have been criticised for their lack of transformation in promoting youngsters coming through their youth system, but Hiddink credits himself with the emergence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Bertrand Traore this season.

F365’s top ten goalkeepers of the season

10) Rob Elliot (Newcastle United)
I’ll level with you, this No. 10 spot was blank for a long, long time. Boaz Myhill, Ben Foster and Lukasz Fabianski were all seriously considered, but instead I plumped for Rob Elliot. Foster has started 11 games, Myhill was pretty unmemorable and no goalkeeper has made more mistakes leading to goals than Fabianski.

Elliot is an unlikely nomination, I grant you. When Karl Darlow arrived at Newcastle last summer he took over as the club’s No. 2 goalkeeper from Elliot, who must have assumed that his time in the Premier League had come to an end.

Not a bit of it. When Tim Krul was injured with Darlow already on the treatment table, Elliot seized his opportunity. His performance at Bournemouth was one of the best individual displays of the Premier League season, and he has continued to protect his goal without any discernible help from a ramshackle defence. The poor sod’s recent injury has ruled him out of a starting place at Euro 2016.

9) Adrian (West Ham)
Adrian might have dropped down from his lofty position of No. 2 in last year’s list, but West Ham’s goalkeeper still gets plenty of Football365 love. Sarah Winterburn picked him as one of her best uncapped Premier League players last month, and Adrian is also the only non-international on this list. In Vincent del Bosque’s defence, you can see why.

Adrian’s save percentage has decreased slightly from last year, but his passing accuracy has increased, an indication that he’s playing the ball out from the back more often than under Sam Allardyce’s less expansive brand of football. He’s also having to make saves less often, evidence that Bilic’s adventure has hardly left gaping wide holes in defence.

8) Fraser Forster (Southampton)
‘Can I choose a goalkeeper with only 14 league starts this season?’ I mused to myself when compiling this list. ‘Course you can, Daniel,’ I replied. ‘You’re your own man now, almost an adult. If you say Forster deserves it because not many goalkeepers have stood out this season, stick by it. The commenters won’t mind. They’re always reasonable people.’

Forster was indeed injured for over half this season, but he has been bloody brilliant since his return. In the 14 league games he has played, Southampton have conceded just 11 goals and kept six clean sheets. “We know he’s one of the best in Europe,” said Ronald Koeman last month, just casually enough to make you believe him.

Also, he’s so big. So, so big. Seeing Forster in person is like watching a wardrobe walking around with a bedside table sat on its top. He’s the Ikea catalogue incarnate.

7) Heurelho Gomes (Watford)
Having been on Spurs’ books for the best part of three years without making a league appearance, it’s fair to say that there’s not a lot of love for Gomes at White Hart Lane. He earned a reputation for mishap, as this uncharitable ‘The worst of Heurelho Gomes’ video testifies. Gomes was described by Alan Hansen as “one of the worst goalkeepers I’ve ever seen”.

When Gomes rolled up at Vicarage Road, therefore, most Watford fans prepared themselves for some delicious football banter, but their new goalkeeper has actually been the opposite: Dependable, consistent and really very good indeed.

Having helped Watford get promoted last season, Gomes has stepped it up a notch in the Premier League. Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has labelled him as important as Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo to Watford’s success this season. Big talk.

6) Petr Cech (Arsenal)
“There is obviously talk of Arsenal signing Petr and if they do get Pete, that will strengthen them for sure. He will save them 12 to 15 points a season,” said John Terry when Cech’s move to Arsenal from Chelsea gained traction. After 33 games last season, Arsenal had 67 points. This season they have 60.

That says one of two things:
1) Cech hasn’t been a very good goalkeeper for Arsenal, costing them points rather than gaining them.
2) Signing a goalkeeper but not a single outfield player was the most foolish decision of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal tenure.

No prizes for guessing which of the two I’m going for…

5) Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Reportedly ready to quit football after failing to make the grade at Manchester City, after being loaned to Darlington and Falkirk, among others. Signed by League Two Notts County on £15,000 a week by mysterious owners that never had the money they promised. Signed by Leeds and then sold after accused poor form. Signed by Sven Goran-Eriksson in the Championship. Schmeichel’s career has already followed an odd path, and it’s hard to believe that the goalkeeper turns 30 in November. Becoming a Premier League champion with Leicester would be the most bizarre occurrence yet.

There is no doubt that Schmeichel has been ably protected by the excellence (and fitness) of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, and his save percentage is lower than six other goalkeepers on this list. Yet his record of no errors made leading to either a shot or goal in 34 starts is unsurpassed in the top flight.

4) Joe Hart (Manchester City)
For those reading this on Tuesday, you should wish Joe Hart a very happy 29th birthday. It’s a long time since we felt so secure about England’s first-choice goalkeeper. Hart has already played almost 500 career matches, a model of near-consistency since being dropped for two games by Manuel Pellegrini in September 2014.

This has not been a good season for Manchester City, but it’s hard to lay much blame at the feet of a goalkeeper forced to play behind a regularly changing defence. Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala – six starts; Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi – 11 starts; Mangala and Martin Demichelis – three starts; Mangala and Otamendi – 13 starts; Demichelis and Otamendi – 13 starts. Throw in Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov each making at least 15 starts, and the constant state of flux is clear.

Behind them, Hart exists as City’s closest thing to a constant. It is a very peculiar English tradition to look for the negatives in our goalkeepers. Instead, just be thankful to have him.

3) Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Has Jack Butland been the best English goalkeeper in the Premier League this season? Yes. Does that mean he should be England No. 1? No.

There are many people who don’t understand that those two answers above can co-exist peacefully. Hart has repeatedly proved to Roy Hodgson that he is England’s automatic choice in France, the injury sustained by Butland against Germany making the debate moot in any case.

But Butland’s time will come. Still just 23, his first season as a Premier League No. 1 has been successful beyond even his grandest ambitions. There are those who will pick him in their team of the season, and understandably so.

Slight flaws remain (he has dropped five crosses this season and made four errors directly leading to shots), but Butland has time to iron out these slight issues. By 2020, he really might be England’s No. 1.

2) Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
Lloris may have kept more clean sheets than David de Gea, but he has also enjoyed the benefit of playing behind the best central defender in the league. My victor Hugo gag will have to wait for another year.

That said, Lloris has still been exceptional this season. Having made no secret of his ambitions to play at the very highest level but, with Manchester United interest rife, a wrist injury put paid to any move last summer. Tottenham’s captain has simply ensured that he will be playing Champions League football at Spurs instead.

Lloris is not a screamer, fist-bumper or chest-beater, but he leads by quiet and studious example. Some teams thrive best with a captain demonstrating audible passion, but Tottenham’s players feed off their goalkeeper’s quiet authority. He is the ultimate calming presence.

1) David de Gea (Manchester United)
As we said when nominating De Gea in our alternative PFA Player of the Year nominations list, answering the question of where United would be without their goalkeeper is impossible to answer with certainty. ‘Lower in the league table’ is, however, a dead cert. United’s continued chances of making the top four have relied upon a defence that has kept 13 clean sheets. More than once, the word ‘defence’ could easily be switched for ‘De Gea’.

De Gea is a very modern goalkeeper, happy to save shots with his feet, legs and body rather than hands. That can occasionally make those saves look scruffy, for our preconceptions dictate that a goalkeeper should always lead with his gloves.

But don’t be fooled into thinking De Gea gets lucky, or that shots are so often struck at him. He is a modern master of positioning and making himself big, accomplished too in the spectacular one-handed saves if the situation demands it. I honestly believe Manchester United have the current best goalkeeper in the world.

Barcelona vs. Arsenal 2016: Start time, TV schedule and news for Champions League

Asenal will have to come from two away goals down if they're to beat defending champions Barcelona and progress into the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. Arsène Wenger's side delivered a spirited performance at the Emirates in the first leg, though their plucky defensive display was undermined by two Lionel Messi goals inside the game's final 20 minutes. They now need to pull off a massive upset if they're to avoid elimination.

Barcelona haven't lost to anyone since a trip to Sevilla in October, and haven't lost in front of their own fans in over a year. Not since they were thrashed 3-0 by Bayern Munich in May 2013 have they lost by more than a couple of goals at home. For an ailing Arsenal -- who are, as ever, dogged by injuries at this most critical stage of the season -- to pull off such a victory is, unfortunately for the Gunners, almost unthinkable.

Key player: Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)

If Arsenal are to have any luck at all in this match, they'll need a big performance from former Barça man Sánchez. After a bright start to the season, the Chilean attacker has been almost entirely anonymous since the turn of the year. It's no coincidence that Arsenal's form has rather mirrored his own. At his very best, he's almost unplayable, and he's the only man that could give the Gunners any hope at all heading into this match.

Recent history

Arsenal have visited the Camp Nou twice in the last six editions of the Champions League, though didn't particularly enjoy either occasion. They were spanked 4-1 en route to a 6-3 aggregate defeat back in 2010 (with Messi rather incredibly netting four goals), before losing 3-1 (the Gunners' only goal being a Sergio Busquets own goal) on their way to a 4-3 defeat a season later. The omens are, alas, ominous.

Barcelona injuries and suspensions

Out: Rafinha (knee); Sandro Ramírez (thigh); Gerard Piqué (suspended). in doubt: None.

Arsenal injuries and suspensions

Out: Tomáš Rosický, Aaron Ramsey (thigh); Santi Cazorla (knee); Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (leg); Petr Čech (calf). In doubt: Laurent Koscielny (calf).

Barça's long-term absentee Rafinha is joined on the sidelines by injured youngster Sandro and suspended defender Piqué. Still, their woes are nowhere near as serious as Arsenal's, with the Gunners still missing several key players including goalkeeper Čech and midfielder Ramsey. Centre-back Koscielny faces a late fitness test.

Match date/time: Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local

Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

TV: FOX Sports 1 (U.S. - English); FOX Deportes (U.S. - Spanish); TSN, RDS (Canada); BT Sport Europe (U.K.)

Online: FOX Sports GO, FOX Soccer 2GO (U.S.); BT Sport live streaming (U.K.)

Messi & co. gunning for James's brother-in-law

All of the alarm bells started ringing at Arsenal when Petr Cech was injured at the beginning of March. The Czech keeper will not be able to help out his team in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie and the man charged with stopping Barcelona's lethal strikeforce will be David Ospina.

There would be nothing strange about this story if it were not for the fact that Ospina is the older brother of James Rodríguez's wife, which makes him the Real Madrid number 10's brother-in-law. One more reason for the midfielder to wish him the very best of luck.

In spite of James's wishes for things to go well for his brother-in-law, the fact remains that Ospina will not have an easy job on his hands against the most prolific goalscoring trio in world football. What is more, Leo Messi has a bone to pick with him, given that he failed to score against him in the last Copa América. The Colombian made a spectacular save, and the Argentine praised him for it after the game.