Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has paid tribute to a trio of Caltex Socceroo greats for setting the path for Australian players to forge careers in Europe.
Ahead of his trip to Australia next week as part of Arsenal’s tour Down Under, Cech spoke to the Gunners website about the impact of Aussies in the EPL.
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"We played against Tim Cahill when he was at Everton and I think it’s an interesting one because you are miles away [from home],” Cech told Arsenal Player.
"Australia is very far and Mark Schwarzer was going 20 years to play with the national team so you can imagine you go all the way, just before the game you played in the Premier League. It’s not easy but I think it just shows how committed they were to the national team, going back and forth.
"Once they have success it obviously opens the door for everybody and I thought Mark, having played so many games at Middlesbrough and then Fulham, left a huge mark on the Premier League.
“Then with [Mile] Jedinak, Cahill, when you have players like this coming in and doing really well it obviously opens gates and opens the doors for the other players as well.
“If they qualify for big tournaments and then the players do well, they can end up in the Premier League or Bundesliga or the European top leagues."
ARSENAL IN AUSTRALIA
The Gunners will touch down in Australia on Monday and spend a more than a week in Sydney as part of their preparations for the new English Premier League season.
Arsene Wenger’s side will play two friendlies against Hyundai A-League clubs, starting with a clash against champions Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on Thursday, July 13.
They’ll then take on Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue two days later.