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| Arsenal's back line has been strengthened since the arrival of Cech from Chelsea in the summer |
IN a cruel touch of irony, the goalkeeper Jose Mourinho let go could help his most bitter rival to win the Premier League.
Petr Cech, sold by Chelsea to Arsenal for £10million in the summer, will play a key role in deciding the outcome of Monday's Emirates clash between the Gunners and Manchester City - the clubs leading the purusit of shock leaders Leicester.
And if Arsenal win it, Arsene Wenger could be forgiven for grabbing all the bragging rights from the manager who branded him a "specialist in failure".
Arsenal boss Wenger could hardly believe his luck when Mourinho decided Cech was surplus to Chelsea's requirements and cleared the way for the Frenchman to make the keeper his only close-season signing.
Cech has more than proved his worth since, prompting his new manager to describe him as one of the best signings he has ever made.
Wenger said: "Petr has done it all. He gives you an aura, a charisma that is always important for the other players in the big games. He has brought experience, calm and leadership as well.
"I met him before I signed him, and we had a long discussion about the game, the job and his position, and I was deeply impressed by his professionalism and by his detailed knowledge. I got the whole package in one go."
Wenger admitted he missed out on Cech before Chelsea signed him in 2004, and the Arsenal boss often muses on what might have been if he had been quicker.
Now the manager is hoping Cech will help Arsenal to the sort of success he previously enjoyed at Stamford Bridge.
Wenger added: "There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper.
"I'm now 30 years in the job and you learn over the years that goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football - and maybe the most vital one for winning things.
"When Spain won the World Cup, (Iker) Casillas saved a one-on-one in the final against (Arjen) Robben, when it was 0-0. At the end of the day, those saves make all the difference."
As a result, Wenger has a growing confidence that his keeper can repeat last season's title success at Chelsea across the capital in north London.
"We now have an opportunity to show that we can do it," Wenger said.
"We started the season by losing our first home game, but we are now in a position not to think too much about whether or not we can do it any more - you just go for it."
The only negatives for Wenger right now are the continued absences of key players Danny Wellbeck and Jack Wilshere.
Neither has played this season and both will miss the crucial festive period. Wenger added: "Unfortunately Danny got injured with bone bruising at the end of April. We are now at the end of December and he is still not available.
"His condition deteriorated and it is a big blow to us, especially as now we cannot rotate. We lost (Alexis) Sanchez for a while and to be without Wellbeck as well is bad for us.
Wenger is, however, hoping to have the injury-jinxed Wilshere (fractured leg) up and running by the end of January.
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