We are disappointed, but this game will help us grow —Cech

Petr Cech spoke to Sky Sports after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Man City at the Emirates  and said it would be a useful learning exercise for Unai Emery’s team,National Daily learnt.

The Gunners were playing a noticeably different way, using the veteran keeper to build moves from the back and while it wasn’t always perfect – and at times a bit scary – the 35 year old insists it’s necessary for the kind of football the Spaniard wants his team to play.

Reflecting on the game in general, he said, “It could have been worse, could have been less as well. I thought in the second half we managed to force them to make some mistakes with their build-up and we had some opportunities to counter attacking.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t find the killer pass in the last 30 yards. We lacked a bit of invention to have a good touch and finish the action off, but when you play against a team with such quality and confidence from being champions last season it was always going to be difficult.

“We tried to keep the ball, not to let them control the ball the whole game, and inevitably you can make a few mistakes. I thought we did pretty well but we couldn’t finish some of the half-chances in the second half.

“I have to say I enjoyed it because I played with other managers and I was always asked to play it long but this is a pleasant change for me,” he said.”