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Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced that he shall be retiring from professional football at the end of this season, as reported by the BBC. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a twenty year career in the game, winning four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and one Champions League crown. His trophy-laden ten year spell at Stamford Bridge made him a Chelsea legend.

The Gunners must now begin planning for life without the 6’5” shot-stopper.

On the chalkboard

Cech is not currently Arsenal’s first-choice ‘keeper. £19.3 million summer signing Bernd Leno has retained the starting position since taking over the role following Cech’s hamstring injury sustained early in the season.

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The 26-year-old German was signed as the successor to Cech anyway, but the outbound veteran must now be replaced too. Emery must now decide how to replace him. His options include signing a back up option, confirming Leno as the club’s first choice for the foreseeable future, or going for someone who will take over, or at least seriously challenge, the former Bayer Leverkusen man’s place.

Plenty to prove

As Emery sought to get Arsenal playing out from the back this season, he bought a ‘keeper good with his feet. Leno has since shown at the Emirates Stadium that he is comfortable on the ball and can distribute well with his feet.

However, his positioning has sometimes been questionable and he has often made the wrong decision when coming to claim crosses that are beyond his reach. 

At 26 he is still young, but those flaws in his game may prove hard to eradicate. At this stage, the pursuit of a new first choice ‘keeper ought to be what Emery has in mind for the summer. Leno has until the end of the season to convince that a new back up is in fact all that is needed.