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Petr Cech: Ben Foster says he 'feels sorry' for Arsenal goalkeeper over recent errors

Last updated on .From the section Watfordcomments166

Petr Cech
Cech won four Premier League titles with Chelsea before joining Arsenal in 2015

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster says he "feels sorry" for Arsenal counterpart Petr Cech over his recent errors when playing out from the back.

Cech has made several slips, including almost passing into his own net in his side's opener against Manchester City.

On Sunday, the 36-year-old was let off when he passed straight to Harry Arter but the Cardiff midfielder shot over.

"Cech is one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has seen but that really is not his game," Foster said.

Cech said after the Manchester City game that he was comfortable with his ability when it comes to helping the team build from the back - a preference of new manager Unai Emery.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Monday Night Club, former England goalkeeper Foster said: "He has spent his whole career playing one style of football and now, at the end of his career, he's being asked to play another one altogether.

"His strong points have always been being big and commanding and making saves, but the way football is going now you almost have to be one of those Ederson-type of goalkeepers."

Foster, 35, said some of what Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson does with the ball is "next level" but added: "For a lot of goalies it really isn't an easy thing to do".

Referring to Cech, he added: "It's going to take some time to get used to and I do feel sorry for him."

'I'm very good booming it 80 yards'

Ben Foster
Watford have started the new season with four consecutive league wins

Speaking about his own distribution, Foster said: "If a manager knows he has a keeper that isn't comfortable with the ball at his feet, his team won't be able to play that way, it won't work.

"To be fair to [Watford manager Javi Gracia] he knows I'm OK with the ball at feet, but I'm very good at booming it 80 yards up the pitch. He is more than happy with me doing it the way I want to do it."

The Hornets have won each of their first four league games - only Liverpool and Chelsea have matched them - and Foster, who joined from relegated West Brom in July, said hard work and expert leadership was behind their impressive start to the new season.

"Pre-season was class and everyone bought into it. Now we are looking so fit and so strong, we've been winning most of our games in the second half," he said.

"Javi is unassuming, he's calm and gets on about his business but shows you a lot of respect, as a person and as a footballer. He has his style of playing and for what we have in our team it fits us perfectly.

"He wants us to play a high tempo, pressing from the front, and when you add the physicality we have it is just a good recipe at the minute."

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166 comments

  • Comment posted by BlueIsTheColour, at 21:41 3 Sep 2018

    Cech is a legend.

  • Comment posted by McWibble, at 01:34 4 Sep 2018

    I've never understood how goalies and a lot of defenders can be so darn awful at passing the ball - I get it's not a big part of their position, but they've been playing football all their lives, some of them at the very top level and for exorbitant amounts of money, yet they can't even kick a ball straight or control it? Not expecting them to be Ronaldinho, but it's baffling how bad some are.

  • Comment posted by Hot Shot Hamish, at 21:41 3 Sep 2018

    funny as! everyone wanting to play like Pep and have the goalies running out hahahahahah. Cech son, you looked ridiculous stay on your line.

    This goalie running and passing the ball about is a fad, like flares and kipper ties.

    The majority of the worlds goalies cant run with the ball hence why they are goalies.

  • Comment posted by U15430524, at 22:21 3 Sep 2018

    Time for Leno. Confidence is not high in cech anymore. Bad for cech but it's arsenal football club not petr cech football club

  • Comment posted by Me, at 21:19 3 Sep 2018

    In fairness, Allison’s rubbish at it as well

  • Comment posted by LuThe, at 21:24 3 Sep 2018

    It's a shame Cech didn't retire beginning of last season. His time at CFC was amazing, he was a colossus and seemingly unbeatable.

    His first season at at AFC wasn't bad, but last 2 have been poor. Not just playing out but handling errors too.

    Didn't need the money, but if he wanted it there were paydays in the US and China for sure that would have left his PL legend intact.

  • Comment posted by A_FORCE_ONE, at 21:35 3 Sep 2018

    The manager bought a younger goalkeeper for that role but for some inexplicable reason, he's decided to play Cech in goal just as he's played Xhaka in midfield when he's paid for his replacement. You cannot teach an old donkey new tricks. This manager hasn't got the guts to drop them. He's just waiting for them to get injured to make his job easier. They will be 24 points behind Watford by then.

  • Comment posted by GALAXY, at 21:24 3 Sep 2018

    My old dad used to say " always be up front with everyone!"

    Great man, crap goalkeeper!

  • Comment posted by footiefan81, at 09:16 4 Sep 2018

    Cech is probably past his peak but Arsenal, with their defensive frailties is not a team that a GK is ever going to get a thriving reputation in. At Chelsea, he played behind a top defence that gave him protection. If Emery wants a 'sweeper keeper', you can only imagine it's time before Leno is in. Just shows that you need the right type of players in every position.

  • Comment posted by OssieWaddledintoHoddlesVilla, at 01:41 4 Sep 2018

    You think you got problems with Cech, how about Vorm giving a corner away from a goal kick....speechless.

  • Comment posted by We_WONT_be_OUTGUNNED, at 09:10 4 Sep 2018

    A section of the media is always after releasing info to stir up controversies about Arsenal. Fair enough it's been mentioned a couple of times, but to rinse and repeat shows you have an agenda. This is how they got rid of Arsene, now they are trying to do the same with Cech- who is an amazing keeper and bar the odd errors has been back to his best.

  • Comment posted by King_Cantonas_KungFu_Kick, at 21:44 3 Sep 2018

    4. The Citizen
    "Watford have started the new season with four consecutive league wins"
    "I wonder who they are playing next?"

    I imagine where many folk have the photos of their wife and kids on the wall, you have photos of those you are obsessed with. Do the photos of Scholesy and King Eric take pride of place?

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 12:30 4 Sep 2018

    In general I have no real problem playing out of the back but there are occasions now where it seems to be done for the sake of it as opposed to it being the right thing to do.

    In particular it seems like their is a dictat at some clubs these days that a goal kick has to go short regardless of the circumstances.

    It's not about short passes or long passes it about the right pass!!

  • Comment posted by Watford Dave, at 21:36 3 Sep 2018

    He’s been immense for us so far this season & he’s right about Cech.
    Admired hugely by most fair minded fans when he was at Chelsea but now...it’s like watching a goalie who’s just lost an edge
    And is on the way out - he should copy alasdair Cooke

  • Comment posted by Vizchica, at 21:44 3 Sep 2018

    Shady187 what a complete and utter tool

  • Comment posted by GorbleGorble, at 10:08 4 Sep 2018

    "Just hoof it" say Arsenal fans.

    Blimey, have standards dropped that much in the last decade?

    I like Cech, top keeper, PL legend. But he's past it at this level. Why did they spend £20m+ on a keeper if they're not going to play him? Why is Cech still their first choice?

  • Comment posted by old lady , at 23:03 3 Sep 2018

    So now they haven't got Wenger to poke fun at it is Cech 's turn ,anyone asked to change their style of play will make mistakes but i amsure he will adapt given a little time ,just look at Liverpool's goalkeeper on the weekend .

  • Comment posted by We_WONT_be_OUTGUNNED, at 14:13 4 Sep 2018

    Let's look at this statistically. From premierleague stats, Cech has made 19 saves-in the top 6 in comparison, Allison(10), Lloris(8), Degea and Kepa (7) and Ederson (5)saves. Keepers saving most shots play for Swansea, Burnley, etc but Cech is 3rd! We need to analyse and train our defenders(Bellerin esp) and midfielders so that opposition can't take so many shots at goal. Cech has been great imo.

  • Comment posted by Overdriven, at 12:38 4 Sep 2018

    Cech played in a Chelsea team for years that never played out from the back. The team had strong players who could usually win the ball, especially with Drogba as a target man. Playing out from the back is the new fad. Because Pep demands it now everyone has to.

    Cech is a legend and a gent. Let him play the way he knows how and if they want to change it find another keeper.

  • Comment posted by Grimm, at 12:21 4 Sep 2018

    This using goalkeepers to play out from the back is absolute nonsense, just get it out of the danger area and let those that can control with their feet deal with it. Having said that I did have a good laugh at Allison's effort against Leicester

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