Cech: ‘Arsenal way’ cost us

– Former manager Arsene Wenger (above) sometimes put the “Arsenal way” of trying to play beautiful football above winning during his final years at the London club, according to goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Wenger left in May after 22 years in charge, having endured a barrage of criticism in the latter part of his reign for a tactical approach that resulted in 14 seasons without a Premier League title.

“What we lacked in the past – I would say the ‘Arsenal way’ – was more important than getting the points sometimes and this is not how you win the league,” Cech told reporters after Sunday’s 2-0 home win over Everton.

“Sometimes you need to make sure you win ugly, when you are not playing well but you just dig deep, close the back door and win 1-0 no matter how. I think this is what we’ve lacked since I arrived (in 2015).”

Spaniard Unai Emery took over as coach on a three-year contract in May and, after a tricky start, has steered Arsenal to four straight wins as he tries to bring a 14th league title to the club.

Cech, 36, said Emery was bringing back the qualities required to win trophies that had gone missing under Wenger, whose last season in charge resulted in a sixthplace finish, 37 points behind champions Manchester City.

“Against Everton, we went through difficult moments in the game but we managed to get the win and with the clean sheet, so this is very positive,” the former Czech international told British media.

Cech, who won four league titles in his time at Chelsea, faces competition for his starting spot from the club’s new signing, 26-year-old German international Bernd Leno. –

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