Petr Cech has completed his £10m transfer across London to Arsenal, drawing a line under a glittering 11-year career at Chelsea with an admission that “life doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will”. The Czech international, who claimed 13 major trophies including the Champions League while at Stamford Bridge, conceded he had slipped behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order last season and, with little prospect of that situation changing, decided it was time for a new start. The 33-year-old spoke to Roman Abramovich and stressed his desire to remain in the Premier League despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, with the owner duly sanctioning the move to a direct rival, albeit reluctantly, out of respect for Cech’s eye-catching contribution while at Chelsea.
The goalkeeper has signed a four-year contract worth a basic £100,000 a week and may confront his former team-mates in the Community Shield at Wembley on 2 August. Cech, who ended with 228 clean sheets from his 494 games, featured only seven times in the Premier League last season, with the champions winning all of them and the keeper conceding only twice, but Courtois’ position as the long-term No1 remained clear. Chelsea have seen a £6m bid for the Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic rejected but are expected to return with an improved offer for a player who is entering the final year of his contract at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke may attempt to take a player on loan from Stamford Bridge as part of the deal but that is unlikely to be Victor Moses. Arsenal, who have dropped their interest in Juventus’ Arturo Vidal, may now sanction David Ospina’s move to Fenerbahce. Wojciech Szczesny, who will compete with Cech for a first-team place next season, welcomed the older man to the club on his Instagram account and is intent on remaining at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are no longer interested in Juventus superstar Arturo Vidal despite reports that a £21m deal had been struck. According to The Telegraph, boss Arsene Wenger believes he has enough quality in his attacking options and his funds could be spent more wisely. Vidal is seen as a similar box-to-box player as Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and is not really what the Gunners actually need. Reports in Chile last week claimed that Arsenal were close to landing Vidal in a big-money move but that seems over. And, Wenger has now turned his attention to Sporting Lisbon’s holding midfielder William Carvalho. According to the London Evening Standard, Portugal Under-21 star Carvalho is now top of his wanted list. The youngster’s fine form for club and country has seen interest mount in his services. Manchester United and Chelsea are also being linked with moves for the £20m-rated player but it is understood that Arsenal are most likely to land him.
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