Petr Cech’s agent says the goalkeeper remains fully focused on playing for Arsenal this season amid reports of a return to Chelsea, and insisted that no offers are on the table.
Arsenal signed Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen this summer to provide added competition for Cech, who was criticised for some uncharacteristic mistakes last season.
Reports have claimed Chelsea are interested in re-signing the goalkeeper, who left them for Arsenal in 2016, although David Ospina is widely considered more likely to be sold by the Gunners.
Cech’s agent Viktor Kolar downplayed talk of a potential move.
“It is always busy during every transfer window around Petr Cech, as a great Premier League person. However, he maximally focuses on the new season at Arsenal, no specific offer is available,” Kolar told ESPN FC.
Cech and Leno are both expected to be on the plane when Arsenal fly to Singapore on Sunday for two preseason matches against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
New head coach Unai Emery said last week that he has yet to decide which goalkeeper will be his No. 1.
Čech holds a number of goalkeeping records, including the Premier League record for fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets, having done so in 180 league appearances, the most number of clean sheets in a season (24), as well as the record for the most clean sheets in Premier League history. At the end of the 2017–18 season, the record stood at 201. During the 2004–05 season, Čech went 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal – a Premier League record, until it was surpassed by Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United on 27 January 2009.
Čech is the only goalkeeper to have won the Golden Glove with two separate clubs, winning it a joint record four times; in 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14 and the 2015–16. Additionally he holds a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 903 competitive minutes, a club record at his former club Sparta Prague, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001–02, when his unbeaten run in the Czech First League was combined with his performances in the Champions League. On top of this he holds the record for the number of Czech Footballer of the Year and Czech Golden Ball wins.
Čech joined Chelsea in 2004 and made 486 official appearances for the club, making him the club’s highest overseas appearance maker and sixth in its all-time appearances list. With Chelsea, Čech won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Champions League. Čech kept a club record 220 clean sheets for Chelsea in all competitions.
Čech sustained a head injury in the match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 14 October 2006 when he collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt inside Chelsea’s penalty area within the first minute of a Premier League match. Hunt’s right knee hit Čech’s head, leaving the goalkeeper requiring treatment. Čech was taken off after several minutes and replaced by Carlo Cudicini, who himself was knocked unconscious later in the same game, forcing Chelsea captain John Terry to play in goal for the match’s remaining minutes. Čech underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture. Initially unaware of the seriousness of the injury, the doctors later reported that it nearly cost Čech his life, and as a result of the collision, he suffered intense headaches.
Chelsea manager José Mourinho blamed Hunt for Čech’s injury, saying that his challenge was “a disgrace”.He also criticised the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust and match referee Mike Riley.A number of commentators, including current and former goalkeepers, saw the incident as highlighting the need for greater protection for goalkeepers.
Čech was able to return home on 24 October 2006 and participated in light training the following week. Chelsea, however, announced that the goalkeeper would be out for three months, in line with medical advice on the time needed for complete recovery from the skull fracture. In an interview, Čech said that he had no memory of the injury itself.