Petr Cech and Per Mertesacker celebrate Arsenal's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Adrian Dennis / AFP
Petr Cech and Per Mertesacker celebrate Arsenal's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Adrian Dennis / AFP
Petr Cech and Per Mertesacker celebrate Arsenal's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Adrian Dennis / AFP
Petr Cech and Per Mertesacker celebrate Arsenal's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Adrian Dennis / AFP

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Petr Cech ‘comes back even stronger’ after defeat, hails Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker is confident new goalkeeper Petr Cech will enhance Arsenal's defence and the centre back said he has already developed an understanding with the Czech international.

Reuters

August 18, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

Per Mertesacker is confident new goalkeeper Petr Cech will enhance Arsenal’s defence and the centre-back said he has already developed an understanding with the Czech international.

Cech, who left Chelsea after losing his place in the first team to Thibaut Courtois, is Arsenal’s only senior signing of the summer and made his debut in the club’s 2-0 opening-day loss in the Premier League to West Ham United.

Cech was heavily criticised for being at fault for both goals during the defeat.

“Petr is very experienced. You can feel that, he has lots of things to say and in the dressing room he gives us a great lift,” Mertesacker told the club’s website.

“Even when we lose a game, he has some great ideas on and off the pitch. He is experienced enough to think about what went wrong. You don’t have to tell him.”

Mertesacker felt Cech was back to his best when Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in an away match on Sunday.

“My feeling is he comes back even stronger, so there is no doubt he will be a great addition for us. Even when you are experienced, sometimes mistakes happen,” Mertesacker said.

“The interaction between the goalkeeper and the back four has to be top to compete in the Premier League.

“Petr came and had that understanding from the start. We both communicate well and understand each other as someone who has to talk and is really responsible.

“We match our ambitions on the pitch and so it is great to communicate with him.”

Arsenal play host to Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday and Mertesacker is aware of the threat the Merseyside club pose after investing heavily on the squad.

“Obviously, it is a very important game,” said Mertesacker, who declined to call it a “must-win” match.

“Liverpool is an opponent which has invested a lot of money and will be great competition to play against, especially at home.

“We want to give something back to our crowd after the start.”

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

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