Petr before Season Launch: Looking to Help Arsenal Towards the Title

As usual, there are several title contenders. Who do you perceive to be your strongest competition?

It’s not going to be easy since all teams became stronger over the summer and the amount of clubs which are aiming for at least the Top 4 is considerable. Chelsea and United are going to want to get back up, and then there’s of course Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool as well as last winner Leicester, which will surely attempt to hold on to the first spot. It’s quite the challenge for us and I’m positive we’re appropriately prepared for it.

Would you be able to say who the greatest favourite is?

United will be under the biggest amount of pressure, I think. They’ve got a new manager and have spent the most on new signings. Anything else then contending the title will be considered a failure by them. But as I’ve mentioned, they’re far from being the only ones. I’m expecting a pretty even season. I’d be surprised if anyone managed to get a major head start right off the start.

Arsenal has been joined during the summer by, amongst others, Xhaka or English defender Holding. How are they coping so far?

They’ve both come to make us more competitive. I’m sure they’ll do great. Of course we all want to play and working your way into the line-up is always a struggle, but then again there’s so many games ahead of us that it’s of particular importance that we stay as even and many as possible. It’s not possible for each game to be finished by the same bunch of eleven.

How would you evaluate your summer preparation?

I thought it was very helpful. We trained hard and diligently and now it’s time for us to put that to good use. We spent a week in the US where we gave two very solid performances. Then we flew off to Norway and Sweden where we managed to beat Manchester City in the final pre-season game. It was a good test for us and gave us a measure of healthy confidence for the upcoming season.

Last season you won the Golden Glove for having acquired the highest amount of clean sheets in the League. Do you have your eyes on the award this year, too?

I’m hoping to tie into my last season at Arsenal but my priority is to play as well as possible and help the team win some trophies. My personal ambitions need to make way for the success of the team as a while. But if I do perform as planned, clean sheets may come as a pleasant by-product.

As usual, there are several title contenders. Who do you perceive to be your strongest competition?

It’s not going to be easy since all teams became stronger over the summer and the amount of clubs which are aiming for at least the Top 4 is considerable. Chelsea and United are going to want to get back up, and then there’s of course Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool as well as last winner Leicester, which will surely attempt to hold on to the first spot. It’s quite the challenge for us and I’m positive we’re appropriately prepared for it.

Would you be able to say who the greatest favourite is?

United will be under the biggest amount of pressure, I think. They’ve got a new manager and have spent the most on new signings. Anything else then contending the title will be considered a failure by them. But as I’ve mentioned, they’re far from being the only ones. I’m expecting a pretty even season. I’d be surprised if anyone managed to get a major head start right off the start.

Arsenal has been joined during the summer by, amongst others, Xhaka or English defender Holding. How are they coping so far?

They’ve both come to make us more competitive. I’m sure they’ll do great. Of course we all want to play and working your way into the line-up is always a struggle, but then again there’s so many games ahead of us that it’s of particular importance that we stay as even and many as possible. It’s not possible for each game to be finished by the same bunch of eleven.

How would you evaluate your summer preparation?

I thought it was very helpful. We trained hard and diligently and now it’s time for us to put that to good use. We spent a week in the US where we gave two very solid performances. Then we flew off to Norway and Sweden where we managed to beat Manchester City in the final pre-season game. It was a good test for us and gave us a measure of healthy confidence for the upcoming season.

Last season you won the Golden Glove for having acquired the highest amount of clean sheets in the League. Do you have your eyes on the award this year, too?

I’m hoping to tie into my last season at Arsenal but my priority is to play as well as possible and help the team win some trophies. My personal ambitions need to make way for the success of the team as a while. But if I do perform as planned, clean sheets may come as a pleasant by-product.