Cech returns to Chelsea after glove mix-up

“I’m not thinking about the Chelsea rumours”, Allegri said.

Jose Mourinho was infamously axed earlier this season by Chelsea, who have not yet appointed a long term successor to their controversial former boss.

A similar result in the Premier League tomorrow at the Emirates will inflict further damage on what has been a hard campaign for Chelsea, while boosting Arsenal’s title hopes.

The Dutchman has played at the ground several times as a player, but he insists the “fear factor” is now gone, with Louis van Gaal’s men languishing seven points behind league leaders Arsenal and Leicester City.

“I’m not sure whether he can play a full 90 minutes yet so we have to consider in the upcoming hours whether to start him or bring him on”.

Koeman has built a good reputation ever since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino, leading the Saints to a respectable 7 spot in his debut season, where he was named manager of the month twice.

“You can not measure that. And you need a top-class goalkeeper to do well”.

The Dutch coach worked alongside Cech during his first spell at Stamford Bridge and believes the 33-year-old remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Wenger revealed he had to contemplate Cech’s signing because of how highly he regards Ospina but said he would have been wrong not to grasp the opportunity.

He said: “It was a very, very hard decision for me because I highly rate Ospina”. Ospina is a goalkeeper who, in my opinion, is underrated, especially in England.

“The glove manufacturers obviously still think of Petr Cech as part of the furniture at Chelsea”, a source told the Daily Mirror.