Arsenal take on Chelsea next in the Premier League, and Petr Cech knows all about this game.
The legendary goalkeeper made a name for himself as one of the best in history during his time at Stamford Bridge, but he moved to the Emirates for the final few years of his career.
Cech played 139 games for Arsenal, including the Europa League final against Chelsea that Unai Emery’s side embarrassingly lost 4-1.
Now, ahead of the game on Sunday, Cech has further risked annoying Arsenal fans with his decision about Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo in his combined lineup.
Fill the blanks: On Sunday, the score will be Arsenal _ Chelsea _.
Petr Cech picks Moises Caicedo over Declan Rice in his Arsenal vs Chelsea combined XI
The Rice vs Caicedo debate has been going on for several months now.
The Arsenal star has been outstanding for the Gunners since he joined them for a club-record fee from West Ham United in 2023.
Chelsea signed Caicedo in the same window, and although it took him a lot more time to adapt, he has been very good this season.
That has led to many Chelsea fans claiming that Caicedo is better than Rice, and their club’s greatest-ever goalkeeper, Petr Cech, has now jumped on that bandwagon.
Ahead of Arsenal’s fourth game of the season against Chelsea, after remaining unbeaten in the first three, the Czech icon decided to release his combined XI.
While speaking on Canal Plus Sport CZSK, Cech was asked to choose between Rice and Caicedo in the middle of the park.
The 43-year-old chose the Chelsea man, and that will not go down well among Arsenal supporters.
Petr Cech’s full Arsenal vs Chelsea combined XI
Choosing Caicedo over Rice isn’t the only debatable decision Cech made in his combined line-up; there are a few others too.
The Chelsea legend snubbed Jurrien Timber, who has by far been the best right-back in the Premier League this season, for Reece James, even though he has hardly played in that role.
This is Petr Cech’s Arsenal vs Chelsea combined XI. What changes would you make?
On the opposite side, Cech picked Marc Cucurella over Riccardo Calafiori, while further ahead, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were chosen instead of Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres.
Cech’s full Arsenal vs Chelsea combined XI: Raya, James, Saliba, Gabriel, Cucurella, Caicedo, Odegaard, Palmer, Saka, Pedro, Neto.
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