Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech remains hopeful that the Gunners can qualify for next season’s Champions League despite their average performance at the domestic stage this term. The north London club are currently 12 points adrift of the top-four in the Premier League, but the 35-year-old believes his side can still reach the elite competition via their Europa League campaign.
Speaking after the Watford win, he said: “Thanks to the result in Milan we are in a good position to reach the last eight of the Europa League then you carry the chance that you might qualify for the Champions League. When you have a run of negative results, it carries on from the Ostersund game at home and in the league. In between that we had the cup final and we lost, so it is very disappointing so when you go through a moment like that you need to find your way.”
Arsenal started as potential underdogs leading into the Milan game after they went four matches in all competitions without a victory. However, they managed to produce an excellent performance in a 2-0 triumph at the San Siro, and they are now in a strong position to progress to the Europa League quarter-final with the return-leg coming up at the Emirates on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Cech had a top game between the sticks against Watford last weekend, and his performances earned him the man of the match accolade as he saved a penalty off Troy Deeney in a 3-0 win. The victory was the club’s first in the Premier League in four matches, and it saw Cech become the first player in the division to achieve 200 clean sheets. Most of the shut outs were attained during his successful period with Chelsea, but the veteran was still relieved to have accomplished the feat.