Arsenal: Petr Cech Criticises And Praises Performance
After a frustrating performance on Saturday, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech criticised the team while also praising the result.
Arsenal played out a tense and unconvincing 2-1 win on Saturday over Southampton, where they had to ride their luck in a number of ways. Shane Long missed a host of good chances, the referee was rather generous throughout and the nerve of Santi Cazorla delivered when it truly mattered.
The performance though was poor. Arsene Wenger said as much in his post-match interview, particularly bemoaning the lack of pace and precision of the attacking display while also stating that the side is not yet into its regular season rhythm due to some players returning late thanks to the international break.
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Wenger, though, was not the only person to comment on the performance of the side, with goalkeeper Petr Cech also praising the smash and grab win while criticising the lack of fluency and fluidity, especially in attacking areas, when speaking to Sky Sports after the match:
“Our game is not as fluent as it could be and it should be. But I think we are getting the results that we need and this is the most important sometimes when you are playing and you know not everything is happening the way you want, that you find a way to win games. Obviously we did so, so we are happy with the three points and we go game by game and try to improve every day.”
Cech’s comments are certainly fair ones. The midfield lacked the cutting edge that Alexis Sanchez provides. Wingers Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled greatly while latest addition Lucas Perez was unable to settle into life in England quickly, perhaps struggling with the pace and intensity of the Premier League, as Wenger suggested afterwards.
However, while performances will certainly have to improve, Cech is also quick to praise the result, ultimately, the only thing that matters. How you win the game, in the grand scheme of things, does not matter. Winning is the be all and end all, and on Saturday, Arsenal won. Just.
Cech, as a serial title winner with Chelsea, understands how to win and he is aware that is a long and arduous season. There is time for improvement, but wins are needed in the here and now, and Cech is acutely aware of their immense importance.