London: Goalkeeper Petr Cech is likely to make his Arsenal debut in Singapore next week after being named yesterday 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.
“I’m really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can’t wait to join up for pre-season,” Cech said last month. 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 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.
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.  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.