Chelsea vs Arsenal: Tim Sherwood raises Petr Cech concern over Unai Emery tactics

That is the instruction of former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood.

The Gunners took on a new approach of beginning their build-up play from the goalkeeper last weekend as they fell 2-0 to Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal were outclassed by the defending Premier League champions with their new style of play causing them many of their own problems with Emery’s charges looking panicked and uncertain when with the ball at their feet around their own area.

Yet ahead of their clash of horns with London rivals Chelsea (today, 5.30pm), Emery has declared that he has no plans to turn away from his philosophy.

And that is a development that concerns Sherwood, who suspects that Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea will look to press their opponents high up the pitch and force them into making mistakes at Stamford Bridge just as City did.

He told The Debate on Sky Sports: “You’re watching that [the City game] as a Chelsea player and a manager setting up, you’re letting them roll it out, you’re setting traps and you’re going to squeeze them and hope they try and play it in wrong areas. 

“Then you’re going to punish them. It’d be really good if Unai Emery has said to Petr Cech, ‘Listen, we learned from that. We played against the best pressing side in the league and the team that can punish us when you give away the ball. Today, you make your own decisions.’ 

“It’ll be interesting to see what Petr Cech does.”

The veteran shot-stopper – formerly Chelsea’s long-time first-choice in nets – was preferred to start over new keeper Bernd Leno, a £19million addition from Bayer Leverkusen.

And Sherwood thinks that if 36-year-old Czech is to remain in goal over the German, then Emery must ease his demands somewhat,

“Unai Emery would know [who his No 1 is], he’s seen them over the pre-season,” Sherwood, out of work since leaving his job as director of football at Swindon Town in June 2017, added.

“Obviously Leno’s not up to it at the moment or he doesn’t feel confident that he’s his No 1. Petr Cech’s got the shirt, it was a tough game for him last week. 

“Lastly because the way he asked him to play, playing out of the back against the best team in the league and you get punished. 

“They did on the day. Yes he made some good saves – saves you’d expect him to make and saves he’s been making all of his career. He’s a top goalkeeper. But Petr Cech should be making his own decisions.”

Lucas Torreira could make his full debut for Arsenal in midfield after only coming off the bench against City.

Nacho Monreal or Stephan Lichtsteiner will come in at left-back following Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ leg fracture, which will rule him out for up to eight weeks.