Bernd Leno has already done battle with Petr Cech.Twice, in fact — in 2011, when his former club Bayer Leverkusen took on Chelsea in the Champions League group stage
Leno was on the losing side at Stamford Bridge, 2-0, but back in Germany he came out on top, with Leverkusen winning 2-1
The pair became Arsenal team-mates with the 26-year-old German's £19.3million move this summer and are about to do battle again — for a place in new boss Unai Emery's starting line-up
Leno said: "Petr had a big career with many, many trophies and he's still a big goalkeeper and a big personality
But I have to look at myself and play my game, work every day, very hard, to be the first choice of the coach
"I will learn a lot working with him every day. He has big experience and played many games
I have a lot of experience too, but he has much more, so I can learn from him."He is a goalkeeper I admired when I was growing up
I can remember my first game in the Champions League, when I was 19, was against Petr
After the game, he said it was a good game for me. Away from football, Cech is a passionate musician who loves playing the drums
But if Leno's initiation performance was anything to go, by he won't be recruited as lead singer for the Czech's band anytime soon
"Maybe you saw the video of me when I had to sing," added Leno, smiling. "It was a German song — it was quite bad
Thankfully, his goalkeeping is better and after a quiet game in the friendly against Atletico Madrid last Thursday, where he didn't have a save to make, he was called into action properly against Paris Saint-Germain two nights later
Leno added: "It's exciting for me. I like the team, I like the club and I like the way we play
"The way we passed it on Saturday is the way the coach wants us to play. With a goalkeeper you have one more player and it's the way I want to play
What is clear is the high defensive line Emery wants his side to employ, meaning Leno must be comfortable in the role of sweeper-keeper when he needs to be
He said: "When the defence is a little bit wider or higher, I need to close the space
Of course, there are a lot of risks but the coach wants that. We close the space
I did it in Germany too, so it's nothing new for me. Leno and his girlfriend have moved into a London hotel while they find a home, and he says he's excited to explore the city properly
But the true thrill will come on matchdays, with many tipping him to be first choice even if he is refusing to give anything away
Asked if Emery had told him or Cech who is going to be No.1, Leno added: "No. I don't know
"I do my best, I work every day very hard and at the end the coach has to decide. Cech has been around long enough to know he has another battle on his hands
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