Former Arsenal goalkeeper and ‘Invincible’ Jens Lehmann has voiced his support for new Gunners keeper Petr Cech, after the Czech international had a nightmare Premier League debut for the north London club.
Cech had an unconvincing game against West Ham in the first fixture of the season – misjudging Dimitri Payet’s free-kick for the first goal, leaving Hammers midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate an open goal to calmly head into. Cech was also slow to react for Mauro Zarate’s shot before it hit the back of the net.
In an interview with Goal.com Lehmann expressed his surprise at the former Chelsea ‘keeper’s performance. He said: “It surprised me because I expected him to be really good from the beginning.
“But sometimes it takes a while to adapt to a new club, particularly when you are coming from a major enemy like Chelsea. It takes time, if he can forget about it at all.
“On the other hand, Chelsea disappointed him because he couldn’t play their last season. He has seen the cruelty in football – you are a hero one year and the next year you are not even playing anymore.
“That could spur him on to play a fantastic season for Arsenal.”
Lehmann went on to describe the positive impact Cech’s arrival could have on the Gunners: “He is the goalkeeper Arsenal need to win the title, he’s got the experience, he’s got most of the ingredients that a fantastic goalkeeper needs and he is among the best ever goalkeepers.”
Lehmann also stated: “It depends on him. I haven’t spoken to him, so I don’t know how he feels physically now, but I think he’s still got some great years to perform at this level. He will give confidence to the whole team, but of course he has to perform.”
Lehmann joined Arsenal in 2003 at the age of 33, similar to Cech. He would go on to become the Gunners first choice shot stopper, and would help the north London team go unbeaten in the 2003/04 season, a legendary season in the club’s history.
Lehmann also commented on Wojciech Szczesny, who recently departed on a season-long loan to Italian club Roma. He backed the Poland international, formerly the Gunners’ first choice, to return to the Emirates: “Why can’t he come back? I’ve always said that when you’re too young, you shouldn’t play for a big club when they need you to win something,it’s about mentality.
“When you commit to a big club which his ambitious to win trophies, you have to commit to that target with no distractions.”
