Saturday’s epic early kick off clash between Chelsea and Arsenal will prove a significant matchup for summer signing Petr Cech.
The 33-year-old keeper arrived at the Blues back in 2004 and become a world-renowned shot stopper during his stay in west London, but left the club for the Gunners after 11 trophy-ladden years in an £10m summer transfer.
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will return to Stamford Bridge for the 1st time since leaving Chelsea after 11 years with the club
The Arsenal goalkeeper will now return to Stamford Bridge for the weekend tie, a game which the Czech custodian will play a key factor in, according to manager Arsene Wenger.
Le Prof, however, has warned Cech, who is just one clean sheet away from equaling David James’ all-time English Premier League clean sheet record of 170, against getting carried away by the emotions of returning to the ground he called home for over a decade.
“You know you have to score the perfect goal in front of him,” claimed Le Prof.
“I just want him to focus on this game and not be influenced by the occasion. You can’t go there and wonder if you’re standing in the right goal or not.
"It is always difficult to go back to your club and play but fortunately he has handled that this season. That is why I decided to play him in the Community Shield. It is the first step that is important and he has dealt very well with it.”
The north London side enter this game 6 points and 13 positions above their London rivals, but their track record against Mourinho’s mean is torrid, winning only 4 of their last 29 matches in all competitions.
However, Wenger firmly believes his side have the “defensive strength” to see his team to victory, whilst also claiming that the importance of this game in the title race may prove profound.
“That is part of the key of the game,” he added. “Hopefully we will have defensive strength.”
“For us it’s a big game and we know our position at the end of the season will depend on how well we do in the big games.
“I do not think too much about where Chelsea stand in the league at the moment. I focus more on us performing well with full power.”
