Petr Cech will bring down the curtain on a glittering
playing career in strange circumstances as the Arsenal goalkeeper faces his
former and potentially future employers Chelsea in the Europa League final on
Wednesday.
Cech, 37, enjoyed the best years of his career at Stamford
Bridge, winning 13 trophies including four Premier League titles and the Champions
League in 11 seasons with Chelsea before moving across London to Arsenal in
2015.
And his close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman
Abramovich looks set to see him return to the Blues in the coming weeks as the
club’s new sporting director.
Cech lost his status as Arsenal’s number one during Unai
Emery’s first season in charge, with Bernd Leno taking over in the Premier
League since September, but the Czech veteran has started all of Arsenal’s
knockout games to reach the Europa League final.
The success of Arsenal’s season depends not only on lifting
a first European trophy for 25 years in Baku but also on ensuring Champions
League qualification that will come with victory.
Emery, therefore, has a difficult decision on whether to
give Cech a fitting farewell or make the cold but calculated choice of playing
his first-choice ‘keeper in Leno.
“I’ll make a decision about my future after the last game,”
said Cech as news spread about his imminent return to Chelsea. “Now my sole
focus is to win the Europa League with Arsenal.”
Emery believes Cech has the experience and professionalism
to shut out any distractions arising from a potential return to his old club.
“Speaking about Petr Cech, we can be here three days and it
is all positive things,” said Emery.
“I only know him this year but he is amazing. Amazing like a
person, amazing like a goalkeeper. His past, his experience, is awesome.
“He is here because he deserves to be here. He was playing
the last matches with a big performance. I want to enjoy this final with him
and I am a privileged coach to work with him.”
A man of many talents, the Czech speaks five languages and
his love of the drums saw him release a charity single earlier this month
alongside Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
However, it was on the field he truly shone despite a
horrific head injury in 2006 that fractured his skull and briefly threatened
his life.
After emergency surgery, Cech returned to the field just
three months later but had to sport his now trademark helmet to protect his
skull from further damage for the rest of his career.
It did not hold him back as Cech proved a reliable last line
of defence during a decade in which managers came and went at Stamford Bridge.
His crowning glory came saving penalties in extra-time and
the shootout as Chelsea upset the odds to finally lift the Champions League in
2012, beating Bayern Munich in the final.
The Europa League followed a season later, but Thibaut
Courtois’s return from a three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid saw Cech lose
his place as Jose Mourinho’s number one.
Another player may have been forced to look further afield
for a new club, but Cech’s close relationship with Abramovich saw the Russian
billionaire clear the way for a move to Arsenal.
Cech has not hit the same heights at the Emirates as in his
early days at Chelsea but still went on to become the first goalkeeper to
register 200 Premier League clean sheets, reflecting his consistency over 15
years.
One more chapter of a fabulous career could still be written
in Baku before Cech hangs up his gloves.
“My last dream was to play this European final with Arsenal
and the last step is to win it,” he said.
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