Petr Cech Set to Make Arsenal F.C. Debut in Singapore
Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who joined Arsenal last month from EPL champions Chelsea, has been part of Arsene Wenger's 27-player squad for the Barclays Asia Trophy.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: July 09, 2015 01:55 pm IST
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is likely to make his Arsenal debut in Singapore next week after being named Thursday in Arsene Wenger's 27-player squad for the Barclays Asia Trophy.
The 33-year-old Czech international joined Arsenal last month on a "long-term contract for an undisclosed fee" from Premier League champions Chelsea after more than a decade at Stamford Bridge. (Petr Cech: The Final Piece in the Arsenal Puzzle?)
"I'm really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can't wait to join up for pre-season," Cech said last month. (Petr Cech Joins Arsenal)
He was among those named in Wenger's squad for this year's edition of the biennial tournament to be held in Singapore.
The north Londoners face a Singapore Select XI team at the city-state's National Stadium on Wednesday, July 15, while fellow Premier League sides Stoke and Everton face off in the first match of a double-header on the same day.
The winners will face each other in the final on Saturday, July 18, with the losers contesting a third-place playoff the same day. (Arsenal Need Consistency to Challenge: Thierry Henry)
Arsenal left out striker Alexis Sanchez of Chile and goalkeeper David Ospina of Colombia following their recent involvement in the Copa America, while Serge Gnabry is also being rested after being involved in the European Under-21 Championship with Germany, the club said in a statement on their website.
"Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky will stay in England to recover from minor injuries but Calum Chambers will travel to Singapore, as will France Under-17 international Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who joined the club from Lens," it added. (Chelsea Fans Threaten Petr Cech on Twitter)
The event was last held in Hong Kong two years ago where Manchester City won the trophy after beating Sunderland 1-0 in the final of a tournament which also involved Tottenham Hotspur. (Ozil Must Fire in Big Games: Jens Lehmann)
Cech made more than 400 appearances during his 11 years with Chelsea, winning 13 major trophies including four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League. He was voted the club's player of the year in 2011. (Jack Wilshere Happy at Arsenal)