Petr Cech says his future at Arsenal will entirely depend on his performances between the sticks this season.
The keeper is out of contract at the end of the season and knows that he must prove to head coach Unai Emery that he’s a long-term viable option in goal if he’s to earn a new deal.
So far this season the new head coach has kept faith with the 36-year-old even though the veteran, who recently turned down the chance to sign for Napoli on loan, has had a couple of scares honing the art of playing out from the back.
It’s anticipated that Cech will get his first breather of the season tomorrow with £26 million summer signing Bernd Leno set to start against Vorskla in the Europa League, but he knows he’ll have to be on his toes if he’s to keep the club’s number one shirt in the long-term.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: “I’m in the last year of the contract so I guess it depends on my performances, the way I play and the way I stay fit throughout the season. Then we’ll see what happens next.
“When you bring players in you do that to improve the squad and to make it competitive and Bernd is here, trains every day and tries to get his spot which keeps everyone in the goalkeeping group on their toes including me, obviously,
“I have to work hard not only to make sure the manager picks me for the weekend but as well that he sticks with me.”
He added: “The goalkeeper situation is complicated as only one can play so the competition is bigger and at the moment I’ve been playing and I try to do my best and hope the manager is happy with my performances.
“I’ve always had great goalkeepers — David Ospina was great as was Carlo Cudicini and Hilario — behind me who pushed me all my career so I have to make sure I’m ready.
“In sport this is the way it goes — you always have someone waiting for your failure so they can jump in and you have to find a way to keep your spot.”
Cech retired from international football just over two years ago having become the Czech Republic’s most capped player. He’s not sure if that decision is helping him to prolong his career.
“It is a question I don’t know the answer to because I always say the motivation will be the key to how long I’m going to play,” he noted.
“I don’t like doing things at 95 per cent — I always want to do things at 100 per cent and you have to be fit enough to do that.
“So, it’ll be a question of whether my body is fit enough to allow me to do that and if my head is fit, too, if the motivation stays the same, I’d like to carry on.”
Well,whatever you think about his form/ability,the guy is one of the best pro out there.what a role model to have for our up and coming prospects.
Absolutely agree. But Bernd Leno is not another prospect, sure hes probably learning a lot from him at the moment but I just wonder if confidence will be shot to pieces not being the number 1 from the get go. Stopping goals is as much a confidence thing as it as scoring them.
Cudicini, maybe….Hilario or Ospina… really? Would Cech want an extension at Arsenal, if Leno becomes number 1 sometime this season? I do hope we keep him in some capacity after his career winds down. He’s like Per, erudite, intelligent and could be a good addition to the coaching staff
Depends on his attachment to Chelsea I should think, but I’m sure there’ll be offers when the time comes
Who’s the guy on the left in the pic??
Left to right- Leno, cech, martinez
r/woosh
Leno’s been brought in for a reason and that’s to be our no. 1. As good as a keeper/Pro Cech he is, he’s on big wages can’t and play with his feet so I don’t think it makes sense to extend his contract.
Leno wasn’t brought in to be number one- he’s been brought in to fight for the number one spot.
Personally I feel Leno should be starting but Cech hasn’t actually let us down yet
Cech is a pro’s pro.. class act
This guy is real class. This is the take home message, I think. Whatever he does, whether here or not, can’t help but want him to do well.
“If my head is fit too” sorry probably in poor taste but there could be a fair few puns from that Petr.