Arsenal: Petr Cech simultaneously competes and supports

Petr Cech has stated that he has rejected interest from Napoli to stay at Arsenal to fight with Bernd Leno for the starting role. In staying, he simultaneously competes with and supports the new number one.

Entering the summer window, large portions of the fanbase believed that goalkeeper was Arsenal’s most pressing need. I did not quite agree with the general level of criticism of the current options and saw other positions as more concerning but could certainly see the argument as to why investment in new options was required.

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It didn’t take long for Sven Mislintat and co. to prove that they agreed with the fans: the Gunners needed a goalkeeper and they swiftly went out and got one.

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The approximately £20 million for Bernd Leno was completed efficiently. Officially announced on June 19th, Leno arrived in north London well before the summer preseason begins and with time to settle into his new surroundings.

His arrival immediately signified the shifting of the number one role between the sticks. Petr Cech, who had been the number one for three years, would slip onto the bench and David Ospina into third-choice. It was assumed that one would leave the club, especially with the need to raise funds for other positions, but Cech has now confirmed that his intention is to stay:

"“Napoli were interested in me, but my future is at Arsenal and I do not think about changing clubs. I still have a year of my contract with Arsenal, the only thing I want to think about is fighting for a starting position.”"

If the 36-year-old does stay on, it will be, at least to start with, as the back-up. I am sure he is aware of this. He is not naive. But he will have to accept that he will not be the assumed starter in the Premier League and will have to hope for injury or a series of mistakes to regain his place in the side.

That said, while he is waiting his turn, Cech can simultaneously offer support for and competition with Leno. He will not give up his place lightly. He will want to win it back and will be working hard in training to change Unai Emery’s mind. But that does not mean that he will be nasty to Leno. He will still help him.

Cech is nearing the end of his career and would have known that Arsenal needed to move on from him in the long-term during the next year or so. This signing, while disappointing for him, would not have been a surprise. And with his wealth of experience internationally, domestic and on the European stage, he can be the perfect tutor and competitor for Leno.

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This is a goalkeeping partnership that I would have great faith in and could set Leno up wonderfully for the remainder of his time in north London. Cech, the competition that he brings and the support that he provides is a key part of that.