With a senior career spanning close to two decades, Petr Cech is well used to speculation about his future.
Speaking in Singapore ahead of our games against Atletico Madrid and PSG, our No 1 was asked competition for places, Aaron Ramsey’s situation and Mesut Ozil.
This is what he told the media:
on his own future…
I have a contract with Arsenal. I am concentrating on this season, on the competition between the goalkeepers because we have plenty of options. I'm doing my best to show to the manager that I can be in the starting lineup when the season starts. That's my aim and as for the speculation, I don't really follow it.
on Aaron Ramsey's contract…
That's a private matter for the club and the player. Obviously we would like to keep all the best players with us. Hopefully his situation will be sorted out as quickly as possible. It's more for the player that he has the feeling that his situation is resolved and he can purely concentrate on the game. It's been two or three weeks since Aaron started training, he's been in top form, working really hard, so we can see it doesn't affect him at all. As I said, it's better for him if the situation is resolved quicker, we will see.
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on Ozil situation with the German national team…
I'm not in a position to really comment on that, it's a private personal matter for Mesut against the German Federation. As a team we support him here, we try to make sure he feels good, so he can train and perform at his best. As a team that's all we can do. Obviously his decision is his decision and everyone should respect that.
on Ozil's frame of mind…
He's training really well, he's happy to be with us and we're happy to have him back as well because he is one of the key players in our team and we need him to be fit and ready for the season. He has been working really hard so hopefully he will be fit.
on the criticism of Ozil…
In general in football you always have criticism and it's not always the right thing to do to a player. Football brings so many millions of people and opinions together that it's always been like that. As a professional football player you have to make sure it doesn't move you and that you perform. That's all you have to do - perform on the pitch and then all the critics disappear.
on whether it's better for Arsenal that Ozil has retired from Germany…
Well, you never know. Only time will tell. I have to say Mesut has come back and is really happy to be here. As I said Mesut is an important player for us, we want him to perform, we want him to feel comfortable. He has the support from the team and we hope by the start of the season he will be fit and ready to perform for us.
on whether Ozil would make a good captain for Arsenal…
That's a question for the manager, but obviously he's one of the most experienced players and he's a world champion. He's played at international level, and he's a key player for us so yes he's one of the candidates.
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