Cech will keep place despite criticism

Unai Emery, the Arsenal head coach, has backed Petr Cech and suggested he would keep his place in goal for tomorrow’s match against Chelsea, even though his distribution was questioned following the 2-0 defeat against Manchester City.

Cech, himself, said that he was being challenged to perform differently from the majority of his career because of a desire for the team to play out from the back, but Emery stressed yesterday that this policy was “not compulsory”.

Cech had his distribution mocked on social media by Bayer Leverkusen, who have just sold Bernd Leno to Arsenal. The Bundesliga club highlighted a miscued clearance with the message, “in case you were wondering how to play out of the back … we might know a guy”.

Cech was clearly unhappy and said that it was “sad” to see other clubs not sharing values of “fair competition, professionalism and

Under pressure: Petr Cech faces competition from the £22million recruit Bernd Leno

sportsmanship”. Leverkusen claimed it had been “a bit of banter” before praising Cech’s save to deny Sergio Aguero. The 36-year-old former Chelsea No1 did make some important saves to limit the margin of City’s victory but his place is under pressure after Arsenal signed Leno this summer for £22 million – a club-record fee for a goalkeeper.

“I am very happy with Cech’s performance – he has experience, he has quality,” said Emery. “Also, with Leno. They are goalkeepers who are important for us. They have different qualities but, in the way we want to play, they can [both] play. For Saturday, the decision for me is easy. Petr can continue to start the match. I believe in him. If Bernd starts, I believe in him also.”

Asked if keepers must be able to play out with their feet, Emery said: “They can play like a player, to start short with the centre-back or the full-back. It is not compulsory.”

Nacho Monreal is available to start against Chelsea at left-back following injuries to Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-niles.