Cech backs new centre-back duo after tough initiation

Despite conceding four goals against Jürgen Klopp’s rampant Liverpool, Arsenal’s Petr Cech thinks youngsters Rob Holding and Calum Chambers can hold their heads up high.

Theo Walcott has opened the scoring for the Gunners before Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane struck back at the Emirates and opened up a 4-1 lead.

Chambers managed to get himself on the score-sheet as Arsenal battled to 4-3, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also on-target for Arsene Wenger’s men.

And veteran goalkeeper Cech believes Holding – a £2 million summer acquisition from Bolton – and Chambers have plenty of positives to take from a tough season opener.

“I thought they did really well,” Cech said.

“When you concede four goals then obviously you cannot be happy as a team because you should not concede four goals at home, but I thought it was a really good experience for them.

“I thought for the first 45 minutes we were excellent. We played well, we got a goal, we had opportunities and we missed a penalty, but the reaction was great because we scored two minutes later. It was a perfect start for us.

“The moment shifted when they got an equaliser in the last minute of the first half. I thought if we concentrated and continued to play well we were going to win the game but, within a 15-minute spell, they scored three and decided the game.

“We had a great reaction to come back into the game at 4-3, but we didn’t have enough time to equalise.”