Cech - The key games I look out for

By Lloyd Webb

Petr Cech says he always looks at the opening game and the Christmas schedule when each new fixture list is announced.

Arsenal begin the 2016/17 campaign by hosting Liverpool on August 13, before travelling to champions Leicester City and then Watford at the end of the month.

Cech is looking forward to the new season, and in particular some key periods.

“I usually look for the first game of the season, because it is the kick-off and [I want to see] when we start and who the first home game is,” he told Arsenal Player.

“Then you might find the top-six teams and look when you have them home and away because when you play these big games, it usually makes a big difference in the season if you make points in these head-to-head games.

“I have to add, I look what fixtures we have around Christmas, because it makes a difference because of how far you travel - who you play home and away depends on travelling.

“This is not because I would like to have a better Christmas, but it is because the games are thick and fast in that period and you are looking where you have to travel to. I know every Arsenal fan when fixture list comes, they are like ‘OK, when do we play Spurs?’ We will surely know, all of us, when we play Spurs.”