Cech's cool, charming and confident
Terry says he can win 12 to 15 points for Arsenal, and goalkeeper is not going to argue with that
With an easy charm, Petr Cech presented Arsenal's brand-new away kit for the upcoming 2015/16 season in a spectacular show of lights and colour at the Esplanade's outdoor theatre last night.
Receiving the loudest cheers from the approximately 600 fans, clad mostly in red and white, the 1.96m-tall Czech goalkeeper is clearly already a Gunners' favourite, even if he will always be a Chelsea legend.
Much has been made of Cech's move to Arsenal, with many claiming it is a key move by Arsene Wenger in his bid to finally end the club's Premier League title drought.
Chelsea captain John Terry had stated that the 33-year-old will earn the Gunners an additional 12 to 15 points in the upcoming campaign, which kicks off on Aug 8.
Ahead of today's double header in the Barclays Asia Trophy at the National Stadium, Cech was clearly not interested in being modest, when he said: "He's known me for a long time, over 10 years now.
"So he knows what he's saying when he said that.
"He's not playing mind games, or trying to give us (Arsenal) false hope.
"He knows what I can contribute to my new team.
"Obviously, I will try to do my best, I'll be more than happy to give my all."
In a difficult final season at Stamford Bridge, Cech - winner of four English Premier League titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and one Champions League crown - found himself in an unfamiliar position, playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois, a goalkeeper 10 years his junior.
But the veteran betrayed no emotion when talking about the 2014/15 season, where he played in only seven league games all season.
"It is what it is," said Cech, who spoke to a group of six reporters in a roundtable last night.
"At the end of the day, you can only go out in training and do your best and try to impress whenever you get the chance to start.
"I tried, but the key is all about convincing (Chelsea manager Jose) Mourinho that you are worthy of playing.
"It's his decision, he's the boss. If he wants Thibaut to play ahead of me, then it's his call.
"He made the decision, so it came to a point where I had to move elsewhere.
"Sometimes life gives you difficult moments, and that was one of them."
Cech is 33, and he's clearly confident he can still deliver at the highest level.
Contrary to what some doubters believe, he says he is joining a team of strength and ambition.
He said: "I look around this team, in training and in the locker room, and I see no difference (between Arsenal and Chelsea).
"You can ask me which players I think are skilful, genuine match-winners, and I'd need a pen and paper for that.
"It was the same at Chelsea, this team have many things in common.
"We have similar ambitions.
"We want to win the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.
"It's an extraordinary group of players. I've been here only a few weeks but I can feel the strong team spirit.
GOOD BLEND
"There's a good blend of experience - young, hungry and experienced players - World Cup winners (Germans Per Mertesacker and Mesut Oezil) - so you know this team mean business."
And, as a man who's seen it all before, he pledged to walk the talk.
Addressing Arsenal's targets, he said: "Obviously, it will be a hard season. Manchester City are strengthening, Liverpool and Manchester United are buying new players, and Chelsea are defending champions.
"We want to have a successful season and, when we face Chelsea -- I know our record hasn't been good at all in the recent years -- I want to be on the winning side."
The Gunners' clash at Stamford Bridge on Sept 19 will now be even more tasty.
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