Arsène Wenger hopes the Petr Cech factor will have an influence on the opposition as Arsenal head to an assignment they have found so troublesome in recent years at Chelsea.
“You know you have to score the perfect goal in front of him,” said Wenger, who wonders whether the combination of the goalkeeper’s aura and the friendship he had with his former team-mates at Stamford Bridge can have an effect on the Chelsea attack, and that it may be one of the fine margins that can decide games of this intensity.
Wenger respects Cech’s experience enough that he saw no need to talk to the player about special sentiments that may be part of a return to the ground he called home for over a decade. “I just want him to focus on this game and not be influenced by that. 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.”
Arsenal tend to find it difficult to find the right balance between attacking ambition and defensive solidity in these fixtures but Wenger believes his team have more power to be able to handle the situation. “That is part of the key of the game,” he said. “Hopefully we will have defensive strength.”
Cech’s presence is fundamental to that. It is notable how significantly Arsenal’s defence have changed in terms of personnel since they faced Chelsea away at a similar time of year last season. As well as a new goalkeeper, and new midfield shield in Francis Coquelin (Mathieu Flamini was picked last time), the back four are likely to look very different.
None of Héctor Bellerín, Nacho Monreal or Gabriel played in the same game last season. All can expect to be picked this time. Even though Per Mertesacker is available again after a virus, Wenger may well consider Gabriel, the fast and tough Brazilian who has been in excellent form, a better bet to keep an eye on Diego Costa.
“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,” Wenger said. “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.”