Arsene Wenger admits doubts ahead of signing Petr Cech

Petr Cech is proving to be one of the top signings from last summer, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed that he had his doubts about bringing the veteran netminder over from rivals Chelsea.

Despite playing a back-up role during his final season at Stamford Bridge, Cech has been one of the top goalkeepers thus far in the Premier League and is tied with Manchester City 'keeper Joe Hart with 10 clean sheets.

Wenger, however, confessed that the decision to offer the 33-year-old an escape from Chelsea was grueling considering he already had a competent netminder in David Ospina.

"Look, it was a very, very difficult decision for me because I highly rate Ospina," Wenger told reporters.

"I have a high opinion of him. Ospina is a goalkeeper who, in my opinion, is underrated, especially in England.

"But (signing Cech) was maybe one of the few opportunities to say, 'OK, this is obvious.' It was more to say, 'If I don't do this, it would have been a mistake' I think."

Ospina assumed the starting duties halfway through the 2014-15 campaign when he took over for Wojciech Szczesny - who was loaned to Roma during the summer. The Colombian went on to feature in every match following Szczesny's demotion, but has been forced into a back-up role since Cech's arrival in June.

Although Cech has exceeded expectations thus far, Wenger admits that he had doubts about the veteran's role last year behind Thibaut Courtois and whether the former Chelsea No. 1 could rediscover his form.

"I didn't know what kind of shape he was in physically because he hadn't played," Wenger added.

"When I met him I was quickly reassured of his desire to do well and his motivation. I didn't know how much he could still produce physically.

"He hadn't played and was battling a drop in physical aptitude. But I knew the potential was exceptional having played against him (for) 11 years in the Premier League. It was a question of, 'Physically, can he still do it?"'