by Lewis Ambrose

Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker are the undoubted leaders of the Arsenal dressing room, and are both thrilled to have another old head alongside them.

Both the Arsenal captain and vice-captain have bene praising new goalkeeper Petr Čech after just a handful of training sessions alongside the former Chelsea man.

While at Chelsea Čech won for Premier League titles, and he wants to add even more medals to his collection after moving across London.

“His ambition is still there even though he has won everything in England and in Europe,” Mikel Arteta said of his new teammate.

“Those type of signings give a lift to the whole team. He’s not just a good goalkeeper. He has experience and ambition. The decision he made to come here after being a legend at Chelsea was not easy.”

Arteta went on to praise the goalkeeper for being too ambitious to worry about losing legendary status at Chelsea.

“He has experience and ambition. The decision he made to come here after being a legend at Chelsea was not easy.”

“I don’t think many of them would do it at his age. He is still hungry and he wants to prove himself at the top again and it’s a really good decision for us. He could have gone to another league and said: ‘My name is here forever in the Premier League with Chelsea.’ And you know that there will be some criticism coming [to him].

“He just wants to take this chance and say: ‘I’ve got another chapter with a massive club and I want to make Arsenal champions.’

“He is very cool, he’s been training very well and he’s not here just to sit on his back. He wants to compete, he wants to keep winning and he’s a good lad.”

Arteta isn’t alone in thinking that the signing of Čech is a great move for the club. Vice-captain Per Mertesacker will be directly in front of the Czech international on the pitch, and claims that he adds a calming presence to the defence.

“From day one on, you felt his presence,” the German said.

“He communicates well on and off pitch.”

It is clear that the new signing boosts the entire team, who are excited to work with him. Čech is inspiring professionals who have already achieved a hell of a lot, and having such an experienced and successful player between the sticks will serve Arsenal well in so many ways.