Petr Cech believes that former club Chelsea are still the favourites to win the Premier League, despite the club picking up just eight points from their first eight matches of the season.
Cech left the Blues after 10 years at Stamford Bridge in the summer to join rivals Arsenal, where he has been excellent so far, keeping four clean sheets for Arsene Wenger's team.
The Arsenal No 1, who won three Premier League titles and the Champions League in west London, admits he is surprised by the poor start Chelsea have endured to the season.
Former manager Jose Mourinho appealed to the Chelsea hierarchy to keep him at the club after defeat to Southampton, with a statement latter issued stating that he was safe - but results had to improve.
"Their form surprises me because Chelsea are among the best in the Premier League," Cech told iDNES.
"I am no longer there, so it is hard for me to evaluate what is going on. Anyway, the season is long and Chelsea are still favourites in my eyes."
Cech is happy with his form at his new club and believes the Gunners are in prime position to challenge for the title.
"After the first defeat for us against West Ham, everyone said that we can never win anything big. Now we are again being compared to the most famous Arsenal, who didn't lose during one season," he added.
"I just know that we have a team that can fight for the title until last round."
The 33-year-old also commented on Wenger's decision to play David Ospina over him in the Champions League - a move that has spectacularly backfired with Arsenal losing both of their matches in the competition so far.
"Twice Arsene Wenger has decided that David Ospina play in the Champions League over me and I have to respect that," he said. "In such a big team and in such a long season it is not possible for a man to play all the time, though I obviously wanted to."
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