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Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted in an interview with Tyden he would prefer and feel more comfortable playing without his protective helmet. Cech has stated the protective headgear affects his hearing on the pitch but accepts it is in his best interests.
The helmet he uses has almost become synonymous with the Czech Republic international and we would struggle to imagine the shot-stopper without the same.
The 33-year-old has been wearing the protective headgear ever since he met in an infamous incident when Chelsea beat Reading 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium in October 2006. Stephen Hunt’ s knee connected with the goalkeeper’ s head in the opening minutes of the game and he was immediately substituted by Carlo Cudicini.
The Czech international was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where it was discovered he had a depressed skull fracture and it required an emergency brain surgery. He was then transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, where two loose pieces of skull were lifted away from the brain and replaced with metal plates.
The former Chelsea shot-stopper spent three months on the sidelines but made a remarkable return in January 2007 in the side’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Cech has admitted the protective headgear affects his hearing on the pitch, but there is nothing he can do about it due to insurance reasons and has accepted the safety reasons behind it.
"I would be more confident if I had it off," he revealed.
"Whether you like it or not, the helmet affects your surroundings. You have your ears covered and it makes hearing worse.”
"But the doctor has forbidden me to take off the helmet. If I did, I would not get insurance."
The Czech international has revealed he had suffered a concussion while wearing the helmet against Fulham in 2011.
"I don't want to think what would have happened to me without it," he added.
Cech shocked by Chelsea’s downfall
Cech has been sensational for the Gunners this season ever since his £10 move from Stamford Bridge during the summer. He was the undisputed No.1 goalkeeper for 11 trophy-laden years with the West London club. However, his former club are having a torrid season and the goalkeeper is shocked by the Blues’ fall from grace this season.
“It makes me surprised,” he said.
“It's a team that six months ago won the league.”
“Players stayed there, the coach added more to his liking. It is very hard to believe that the club is in such a state.”
“I was surprised to see their suffering at the beginning of the league, but I was even more taken aback by the fact that the crisis still continues.”
