Wenger: Cech Can Be Arsenal’s Van Der Sar

Petr Cech can do for Arsenal what Van der Sar did for Manchester United, argues Frenchman Arsene Wenger of Arsenal.

The 33-year-old moved to the emirates from Chelsea for £11 million after spending 11 years and winning 15 trophies with the blues.

Van der Sar joined united in 2005 when he was 34 and went on to win 11 trophies with that team till 2011.

“His move is a bit like Van der Sar. He went from Fulham to Man United but still had five or six years at Manchester United, so I don’t see why [Cech] shouldn’t have a few more years,” Wenger told reporters.

“He’s very serious, he trains well, has no big problems. He has an intimidating presence that is for sure. He makes the goals look small. That’s the kind of charisma he has. He is a big size.

“He has a good combination between quality, agility, size, he looked like he was built for English football. I think he is a very bright goalkeeper as well.”

Wenger identified Cech as a potential purchase before his move to Chelsea in 2004 after being impressed by the Czech goalkeeper at Rennes, but missed out during Jose Mourinho’s first summer in England.

He added: “Before he went to Chelsea we were interested, as the guy who brought him to Chelsea is a good friend of mine and he told me there was an exceptional keeper at Rennes.

“He was very young when he went to Rennes. One of my assistants, Boro Primorac, his son was a player in Rennes and he said they had a very good goalkeeper. I think Chelsea were a bit quicker than us.”