Cech Shocked By Chelsea Form  (Sky Sports)

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech says Chelsea's dismal form is "hard to believe".

Cech left the champions for Arsenal last summer, having spent much of last season on the bench with Thibaut Courtois the No 1 choice of manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea have had a terrible start to the Premier League season, winning just three of their 12 games and suffering seven defeats. The Blues only lost three games in the whole of last season.

Cech, whose new club are second, 15 points and 14 places above Chelsea, told Czech paper Tyden: "It makes me surprised. 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."

Cech also revealed he would rather play without his protective helmet but has been advised against doing so by medical staff.

He spent three months out with a fractured skull after a collision with Reading's Noel Hunt in 2006 - and has worn the protective skull cap when playing ever since.

"I would be more confident if I had it off," he added. "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."