'Petr Cech alone won't win Arsenal the Premier League', says David James

More needed: Cech is not enough, claims James
James Benge19 November 2015

David James is not convinced that the presence of Petr Cech alone is enough to take Arsenal from top four contenders to title winners.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper was the only signing made by Arsene Wenger during the summer transfer window, meaning that only Swansea City had a lower transfer outlay than the north London side among the Premier League sides.

Wenger had identified the goals for column as a vital area of improvement during the summer, after a season in which only eventual champions Chelsea conceded fewer than Arsenal’s 36 goals. Despite interest in world-class forwards Karim Benzema and Edinson Cavani no deal materialised for either, nor any other forward options.

The lack of new additions has not stopped the Gunners from keeping pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, but former Liverpool and England goalkeeper James is not convinced Wenger has solved underlying issues with Arsenal’s defence.

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“I like Cech, I think he is an amazing goalkeeper, there's quotes by me suggesting I said otherwise but that's never the case,” he said.

“The point of Arsene getting Petr Cech wasn't Cech isn't good, or better than [David] Ospina, because he is in every department, however Arsenal's problem wasn't fundamentally the goalkeeper.

“I think they conceded 36 last year, their best before that was The Invincibles in 2004. They also concede the greatest number of headers, so there's something in front of the goalkeeper which isn't quite right.

“The fact Cech has had to produce a number of outstanding performances already this season, kind of suggests there's still problems going on in front of him. No (he can't make the difference to Arsenal winning the league).”

Arsenal have conceded nine goals in 12 league matches so far this season, only one fewer than the competition’s best defensive outfits, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United.

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