Wenger: I could have signed Cech

14 April 2012

Arsene Wenger admitted today that he missed out on signing Chelsea's star goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Arsenal have been blighted with goalkeeping problems this season with Jens Lehmann being axed in favour of the unpredictable Spaniard Manuel Almunia - although the German will be back in goal for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie against Wolves.

At Stamford Bridge, 22-year-old Cech has been instrumental in Chelsea building a 10-point lead in the Premiership. They have conceded only eight goals in 24 games as Cech has replaced Carlo Cudicini as the No1 goalkeeper after signing a five-year deal.

Cech was signed from French club Rennes and Wenger conceded that he was a player who had slipped through the Highbury net after they had monitored his progress at previous club Sparta Prague.

At the Czech club he went over a thousand minutes before conceding a goal in any competition - attracting Arsenal's interest.

Wenger said: "We wanted to take him before he went to Rennes but we could not get a work permit. At the time he had not played the necessary amount of games for his national team.

"Yes, we missed out - but these things happen. He is not the only player we have missed out on. And when he moved to France we still had David Seaman and we had Jens Lehmann. But Cech is doing well and he is developing well. He has what you need to play in England. He has the size and that is vital.

"People don't realise how important that is. You get offered a goalkeeper of six feet-plus who is doing well in a Latin country. He comes here and he gets slaughtered. Therefore I feel Cech has the ingredients you need to be successful in England. Then last year, Chelsea did well. They bought him very early."

Cech's value to Chelsea was illustrated in the stunning save he made from Cristiano Ronaldo to preserve Chelsea's 2-1 lead at Manchester United on Wednesday and seal a place in the Carling Cup Final next month.

Wenger has insisted that he will not be signing a goalkeeper in the January transfer window. Arsenal, second in the table, face Wolves without Kolo Toure. The 23-year-old defender misses the next three matches after being banned by the Football Association for elbowing Newcastle's Alan Shearer.

Arsenal will also be without injured Swiss teenager Philippe Senderos.

Wenger said: "You know the kind of guy Toure is, he never retaliates. He had a frustrated reaction because Shearer hit him.

"He shouldn't have done it, apologised and shook hands with Shearer straight away. I am not angry with him because I know the kind of player he is. He is not violent, not at all. We will miss him but I have every confidence in Pascal Cygan."

Wenger also revealed that Arsenal will offer help to wayward midfielder Jermaine Pennant who was charged with drink driving for the second time in 11 months on Sunday. Wenger added: "I think he has made a big mistake and he deserves to be punished for what he has done but you don't leave him completely on his own. If he needs help, we will help him.

Birmingham still want to to take the England Under-21 international - who has not trained for three days - on loan for the rest of the season but Wenger did not rule out asking former captain Tony Adams, who runs the Sporting Chance charity for those with alcohol problems, for help.

Meanwhile, Wenger is resigned to losing Brazilian midfielder Edu to Valencia before the transfer window closes. "I think he is close to going to Valencia," said Wenger who is set to rest striker Thierry Henry for tomorrow's tie with Wolves at Highbury. "But I am not thinking about bringing in someone to replace him. Anyway, we are far from reaching agreement with Valencia about a fee."

Arsenal will want at least £1.5million for Edu who cost £5m when signed from Corinthians of Sao Paulo four years ago.

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Wenger: I could have signed Cech

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