JOE sat down with Arsenal legend Ray Parlour to discuss the Gunners' hopes for the new season. Can Petr Cech help fire them to the title? And where else does Arsene Wenger need to strengthen?
JOE: Arsenal have made a lot of big signings over the last two years - is Petr Cech the final piece of the puzzle to push for the title?
Ray Parlour: He's certainly a great signing. I mean, I don’t think you can win the league without a top-class goalkeeper. I’m not saying (David) Ospina and (Wojciech) Szczesny aren’t, but they’ve made a few mistakes here and there. I think Ospina was excellent when he had his opportunity.
But Cech; he’s been there, he’s done it. He’s won big, big games. He’s played in title-winning sides, so he’s an excellent signing.
And at 34-years-old, I think he’s still a young man for a goalkeeper. Look at Edwin van der Sar when he signed for Manchester United at 35 and the impact he had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCbwiQ4CV2M&feature=youtu.be
Is it a bonus that Cech arrived from Chelsea, essentially weakening a direct rival?
I think that Chelsea respected Petr Cech. I think his family are very happy to live in London. I’m sure that lots of clubs around the world would have been interested in someone of his quality. And I think that Arsenal moved in quickly and made sure that he was happy in London.
He needs to play first-team football, because (Thibaut) Courtois is a fantastic goalkeeper and Jose Mourinho's made that decision.
Mourinho probably would have said “Well, in an ideal world we don’t want to give him to one of our rivals” but I think that they respected that Petr wanted to stay in London, and Arsenal were probably his only choice.
https://twitter.com/PetrCech/status/615528188727443456
What other areas do Arsenal need to improve on this year?
Right down the spine of the team — I think in the wide areas they’re pretty strong. Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil can play on the left. You can also play Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
I just think a holding midfielder (should be signed), maybe. (Francis) Coquelin has done a great job when he first got into the side, but throughout the season you might get a few problems and you need another player to come in.
A centre-back, as well. I know it’s very hard to find somebody in the Tony Adams mould who is a leader as well. I’ve always said going back through the great players I’ve played with that Tony Adams would be the first-choice for me.
Who would I put in the side now? It’d be Adams, for his leadership qualities and his defensive qualities.
Do you have any names in mind for who Arsene Wenger should look at?
Morgan Schneiderlin is an excellent player. I know Manchester United have got him now, but that sort of mould. The good thing about Schneiderlin is he knows the Premier League. He knows it inside out. He knows what to expect every single week. It’s a very gruelling season - that’s the sort of player (Arsenal) need.
William Carvalho was mentioned. I saw him in the Under-21 Championship and he was very good.
At the centre-half position, people mention Mats Hummels and players like that, but they’re very hard to get these days.
https://twitter.com/AlanCurran12/status/622483108730916864
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