Cech sets Arsenal title target
LONDON: Petr Cech admits Arsenal must record back to back victories against Swansea and Tottenham this week to relaunch their spluttering Premier League title challenge.
The Gunners’ showdown with Swansea at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday marks the first of those games, with Arsene Wenger’s side aiming to bounce back from Sunday’s damaging 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
That loss, together with Leicester’s defeat of Norwich 24 hours previously and Tottenham’s victory over Swansea, left Arsenal in third place, five points off top spot.
That meant the Gunners squandered their good work in beating leaders Leicester seven days earlier, a win that had moved Wenger’s men second and appeared to shift the momentum of the title race in their direction.
But instead of building on that win, Arsenal are now playing catch-up and the manner of their defeat at Old Trafford has raised questions about their stomach for the fight, as well as reigniting the debate about Wenger’s own future at the club.
The French coach is in no doubt about the reaction he is expecting from his players against a Swansea side who lie two places and three points above the relegation zone and are without a win in four league games.
“We have to show that we are at the level of this fight,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. “Things can change quickly. We need to bounce back quickly on Wednesday night.”
And the manager’s view was supported by Arsenal goalkeeper Cech, a veteran of four Premier League tit le successes with Chelsea.
“This (the defeat at United) was a big disappointment for us and is a step back after last week where we managed to overcome a deficit against Leicester at home,” Cech said.
“This is a step back but we need to keep working. We have two important games coming up this week and if we manage to win both the table might look better again.” — AFP