ARSENAL KEEPERS IN DARK OVER No1 POSITION
UNAI EMERY has still not informed his goalkeepers who will be Arsenal’s first choice between the sticks this season, with only nine days until their Premier League opener against Manchester City. Emery is considering whether to use Petr Cech, David Ospina, Bernd Leno or Emiliano Martinez in goal, with one of the four set to be sold or loaned out. Cech, 36, made a case for himself against Chelsea in the 1-1 friendly draw in Dublin on Wednesday by saving two penalties — from Alvaro Morata in normal time then another from Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a penalty shootout. Emery will make his decision over his No1 this week, with Leno believed to be the frontrunner. ‘You do your best, then the manager has his choice to make,’ said Cech. Asked whether he had received assurances from Emery, Cech added: ‘No’. Nevertheless Cech insists he could play on until the age of 40. He said: ‘My motivation is the same as 20 years ago. If I have the same ambition for the next two or three years, who knows?’ Emery, whose side face Lazio tomorrow, wants to implement a high-pressing system that will see his goalkeeper take up a higher starting position, but Cech insists he can adapt. He said: ‘You can see that in the games we played, we pressed higher... even for us goalkeepers you need to be calm with the possibilities that there is a big space behind and make sure they are in the right positions.’ Meanwhile, Emery said he wants Aaron Ramsey to stay at Arsenal, despite reports linking the midfielder with a move to Chelsea. Ramsey has stalled over signing a new deal with the Gunners and, asked if the Welshman was ready to put pen to paper, Emery said: ‘I don’t know. My opinion is clear. I want him to be with us.’