Ultimate10002000
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Wenger once failed to cash in on Cech
Arsene Wenger has revealed how he missed out on signing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech despite closely tracking his early career.
Arsenal scouts had watched Cech in action at Sparta Prague but were unable to get a work permit as he had not yet played enough games for the Czech national side.
Arsenal nevertheless missed out when he moved to Rennes in 2002 and then when Chelsea swooped last January to tie up his signature ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Cech, now 22, has since gone from strength to strength, clearly emerging as the Premiership's best goalkeeper this season, conceding just eight goals in 24 league game.
Wenger, meanwhile, has been left to switch between Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, even if insists that he will still not be signing a new keeper during the transfer window.
The Arsenal boss told the Evening Standard: 'We wanted to take Petr Cech 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. When he moved to France, we still had David Seaman. Then, last year, Chelsea did well. They bought him very early.'
Wenger added: '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.'
Arsene Wenger has revealed how he missed out on signing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech despite closely tracking his early career.
Arsenal scouts had watched Cech in action at Sparta Prague but were unable to get a work permit as he had not yet played enough games for the Czech national side.
Arsenal nevertheless missed out when he moved to Rennes in 2002 and then when Chelsea swooped last January to tie up his signature ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Cech, now 22, has since gone from strength to strength, clearly emerging as the Premiership's best goalkeeper this season, conceding just eight goals in 24 league game.
Wenger, meanwhile, has been left to switch between Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, even if insists that he will still not be signing a new keeper during the transfer window.
The Arsenal boss told the Evening Standard: 'We wanted to take Petr Cech 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. When he moved to France, we still had David Seaman. Then, last year, Chelsea did well. They bought him very early.'
Wenger added: '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.'