WE ARE ALL RED LEADERS

Gunners build character

PETR CECH claims Arsenal’s batting win over Manchester City showed the side’s character and proved they DO have leaders in the team.

The Gunners came from a goal down to win their FA Cup semi-final 2-1 in extratime on Sunday to set up a Wembley showdown with Chelsea on May 27.

Seven defeats and a draw in their previous 13 games had seen doubts raised about the mentality of Arsene Wenger’s side.

But after Sergio Aguero put City ahead, Nacho Monreal equalised and Chile ace Alexis Sanchez (right) bagged the winner in the 101st minute.

Keeper Cech, who will be facing his former team in the final, said: “It’s easy to hide behind saying we lack leaders and other teams have them.

“You need to see what is happening behind the scenes, how well the team works and how we operate.

“You have some periods where you prepare and do the right things, then the game starts and it all goes completely wrong.

“We had a difficult period where we lost games we shouldn’t have lost and then you are in a situation where you are under pressure and need to find a way out.

“Sometimes you find a way out quickly, sometimes it takes a bit of time and there is damage. And I think this season we had that spell. When you lose three out of five, you ® put yourself in a difficult position. At the start of the season we overcame a lot of games when we fell behind. “Sometimes you find the answer to the difficulties you face, sometimes you don’t. “Against City most important was the whole discipline of the team and the effort. “Everyone stuck to the plan and the individual performances were brilliant. “It was very difficult against a very difficult opponent and at times they have been brilliant, even though they lost. It was very tough, but we managed to find the answers. “We started the game confidently and although we fell behind, you could see we felt it wasn’t a problem. “Against Crystal Palace, when we fell behind, it suddenly looked like we couldn’t find the answers to overcome the deficit. “Against City you felt we had the belief. We need to carry that on.” But Cech did admit the north Londoners need maximum points from their last seven games – starting with tomorrow’s visit of Leicester – if they are to maintain their record of qualifying for the Champions League every season Wenger has been in charge.

Judge

They lie seventh, seven points behind fourth-placed City with a game in hand.

“I think we are going to be under pressure in every game now,” he added.

“Because of the position we are in in the league now, there’s no other option. We need to keep getting three points in every game to hope we can get the automatic qualification for the Champions League.

“The FA Cup is at the end of the season, so there will be a lot of conditions before we play at Wembley again.

“Our target is to finish as high as possible. We have games in hand, but the situation in the league is a bit complicated. We will only be able to judge at the end of the season.

“Then we will see for the final, because if you don’t quality for the Champions League, it will obviously be a big loss and a big disappointment.

“Yes, it’s going to be special for me. Obviously every FA Cup Final is special in itself and it is against a team I had a huge success with and spent so many wonderful years with. Hopefully I will be the one celebrating.”