Football
ESPN staff 9y

Petr Cech can be Arsenal's Edwin van der Sar - Arsene Wenger

Petr Cech can have a similar impact at Arsenal as Edwin van der Sar did at Manchester United, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

Cech, 33, signed for Arsenal from Premier League rivals Chelsea this summer, having won four top-flight titles during his 11 years with the Blues.

Former Netherlands goalkeeper Van der Sar joined United from Fulham in 2005 at the age of 34 and went on to lift several trophies with the club, including four Premier League titles.

Wenger said on the club's official website: "Before he went to Chelsea we were interested as the guy who brought him to Chelsea is a good friend of mine. One of the guys who was the agent 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. So we knew [but] I think Chelsea were a bit quicker than us.

"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. He has an intimidating presence, that is for sure. He makes the goals look small. That's the kind of charisma he has.

"His move is a bit like Edwin van der Sar's, who went from Fulham to Manchester United but still had five or six years there, so I don't see why [Cech] shouldn't have a few years. He's very serious, he trains well, has no big problems."

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