In the short few weeks that the new head coach Unai Emery has taken over at the London EPL football club, goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted that he has been rather impressed with how everything has been structured and organised at Arsenal.

Said Cech, “I think that it’s impressive how he (Emery) has set up his coaching staff and how they all work together really well. You can see how organised and professional they are and I think in the long run, they are running everything smoothly on the highest level.”

Cech had been speaking to members of the media, on the sidelines of a team training session at the Singapore American School, which had taken place this morning.

The training session was supposed to have taken place outdoors on the school’s football pitch, but due to lightning risk, the players had done their training in the indoor gym nearby instead, for safety reasons.

Arsenal are in Singapore to take part in the International Champions Cup this week.

Added Cech, “Everything is all going the right way and we have been having some good training sessions so everyone is getting fit. And so far we have had a good pre-season; we have not had any injured players who have missed out on games. So that is another big positive.”

New signings are coping well

Cech also added that the team’s new signings have also been coping well, with their move to Arsenal.

This was because in the pre-season, Arsenal had made an early, decisive move in the transfer market, signing defenders Sokratis Papastathopxoulos and Stephan Lichtsteiner, goalkeeper Bernard Leno as well as teenage midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

Said Cech, “The new players have been doing really well and I have to say that we now have a good group of people. Both the players and everyone in the staff is working really well together.”

He continued, “Also, even though the players may be new at the club, it’s pretty easy to gel with them on the playing field because we all kind of know each other somehow, maybe from the national team or we played with or against some of them at other clubs.”

New manager brings changes

However, despite his optimism and enthusiasm about the upcoming season though, Cech admitted that having a new manager will almost certainly bring changes and different routines of some sort, though.

He said, “Our roles are still similar to what we are used to, but the way that we work is different because every manager has his own way of working. After all, when you have a team built up from so many different players who come from various backgrounds and environments, you need to get used to doing things in different ways. But for us so far we have been doing really well and the pre-season games has been going great, too.”

Continued Cech, “We are still missing some players so we don’t quite have our full squad, but then it’s tricky because every team is missing players because of the World Cup. We also have different players coming in at different times and that is not ideal. But we have the majority of the squad at the beginning of the season and that’s great for us.”

Change is nothing new to Cech

But change is nothing new to Cech though, having played for Chelsea before having made the move to the Emirates in the summer of 2015.

Said Cech, “I played under 11 different managers when I was at Chelsea, so you can imagine the way that went. But generally, when a new manager shows up, you must come in and work as hard as you can, to show him that you deserve to be in the starting line-up. That is all you can do.”

He added, “Maybe for players who have been with Arsenal for a long time and have played only under (former Arsenal manager) Arsene (Wenger), things may be difficult for them. But most players, especially those who come from other clubs, are used to working with new managers; that is what modern football is all about. Arsenal is an exception, to have had a manager (Wenger) staying at the club for more than 20 years.”

But still, massive changes such as a new manager though, may bring some challenges at the same time, Cech conceded.

He said, “Well you know, when you have big changes like a new management, it can be a challenge for everyone. But it is all about how you work and make the changes happen.”

Continued the goalkeeper, “Hope that all of our good work will bring results when the new season rolls around next month. Our work so far has been of the highest quality.”

Aims to challenge for the title

Unlike the past couple of seasons though, when Arsenal have failed to impress and fallen below expectations, Cech’s aim is to challenge for the title with Arsenal in the upcoming season.

He said, “I think that the aim is clear. You want to challenge for it. But it is a new year and after a big change, such as a new manager, it may take some time. The intention is always to go into the season targeting to reach the top and win it, but if you cannot, then you just can’t.”

Continued Cech, “But if the title becomes out of our reach though, then our minimum aim is to be in the top four where the club belongs. We want to get into the Champions League. That is the basic target. But of course though, we want to add to that. So if we can win the league, then obviously that would be great.”

And should the club make a return back to winning ways under Emery, Cech is also confident that this will unite all of the Arsenal fans together.

This was because under former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Gooners had been divided into two camps – those who had wanted Wenger to stay put, and those who had been calling for his head.

Said Cech, “Football is all about how you perform on the pitch. So if you start winning games, everyone will immediately jump onto the same boat and back the manager.”

Unfazed with arrival of Bernard Leno

Cech is also unfazed by the competition of fighting for the goalkeeper spot on the first team with the new German international Bernard Leno.

Said Cech, “It has happened many times during my career. That is the way it goes. But the only thing to do is to work hard in training and force your way through to the starting line-up. Everyone does the same thing and the manager has to make his choices. That is how it works in football. Just do your job and hope you impress enough to get selected.”

Continued Cech, “With the large squad that we have this season though, more people will get left behind. So we will see how it goes; but as long as I try my best and concentrate on doing my job as best as I can, then the manager will notice and choose me.”

No return to Stamford Bridge

And as well, Cech also added that despite what rumours have said, he clarified that he has not been in contact with Chelsea on a possible return to Stamford Bridge.

He said, “No, I have not been in contact with Chelsea. I am here at Arsenal. I have one more year of contract left and the club (Arsenal) is continuing with me. I am ready at Arsenal, and I am committed to doing my job here.”