Emery hails Cech after Everton win

Goalkeeper helps Gunners keep cleansheet in 2-0 win

LONDON: Unai Emery saluted Petr Cech after the Arsenal goalkeeper's superb display set the stage for Sunday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Emery's side were under the cosh in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, but Cech came to their rescue with a series of fine saves.

Having survived Everton's opening salvo, the Gunners clinched their fourth successive Premier League victory thanks to second half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.



Lacazette's sublime strike will stand the test of time, but Aubameyang's was more fortunate as the Gabon forward was clearly offside.

While the predatory form of Arsenal's strikers was encouraging for Emery, the Gunners boss was more heartened by his team's first clean-sheet of the season.

It was a well-timed display from Cech after the former Chelsea star was replaced by pre-season signing Bernd Leno for Thursday's Europa League win over Vorskla Poltava.

Emery's decision sparked claims Cech was on the way out, but the Arsenal captain had other ideas as he rolled back the years with a vintage display.

"We are very happy with the goalkeepers. Petr has big experience and big quality. He has started the season very well," Emery said. "He is performing like we want and today he showed us he is very well. I'm surprised there are a lot of questions about Cech, because in the pre-season and in the first matches with us he played well. Leno is calm. He knows he is working well but Petr Cech is performing well. Leno will improve and learn with us. He has a big future."

Sarri sets sights on Liverpool after West Ham stalemate

Maurizio Sarri laughed off suggestions that next week's summit meeting with Liverpool is a "must-win" game after seeing Chelsea's 100 per cent Premier League record ended by stubborn West Ham in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.



Chelsea had won all five of their league matches before the weekend, going toe to toe with Liverpool, who beat Southampton on Saturday to make it six wins out of six.

"They are a step forward than us in this moment," he said. "We have started to work all together 35, 40 days ago. So for us I think it's a bit early. We have to work. We need to improve and then maybe in one year we will be at the same level of Liverpool."