Sky Sports | Football | News | Cech - Arsenal more mature

Petr Cech feels Arsenal are well placed to launch a title tilt and believes they can have no more excuses.

The Gunners are among those battling it out for the top prize in the Premier League this season, with the race for top flight supremacy keenly-contested.

Reigning champions Chelsea are also there or thereabouts at the moment, with a recent wobble denting but not dashing their dreams.

Commanding keeper Cech is likely to be a key figure for the Blues over the coming weeks, especially in Monday's crucial clash at Emirates Stadium on Monday.

He knows Arsenal will be no pushovers on home soil, as Arsene Wenger's men have learnt how to grind results out, and insists the Gunners can no longer be regarded as an inexperienced side.

Stronger

"I am expecting them to be around the top spots,"Cech toldisport.blesk.cz.

"They have managed to edge some games with last-minute goals, which shows they are mentally stronger than in past seasons.

"A lot will depend on how they do in the big games and whether they can become consistent in those."

The crunch clashes have cost Arsenal dear over recent years, but Cech insists they cannot keep churning out the tired excuses of the past.

He added:"Their team has big potential, they aren't kids anymore like people often call them.

Expectation

"Most of them are around 25 years of age or older and have played many times. They are a top side that are expected to win all their games.

"They always get close to the top and then drop out."

The Czech shot-stopper added:"They sometimes get out-battled. You cannot win all the time just by playing nice football.

"Some years ago you could put it down to inexperience, but that's not an excuse for me now.

"Even their young players have been around for at least four seasons in the Premier League."

Source