Petr Cech joins Arsenal: Former Chelsea goalkeeper should be treated like the legend he is - not like a traitor for joining a rival

COMMENT: The big Czech is the best goalkeeper Chelsea have ever had

(Getty Images)

Petr Cech has announced via his Twitter that he will join Arsenal.

The reaction from Chelsea fans has been mixed since the rumour was first mooted a couple of months ago; sadness at the departure of a great, anger at selling him to a club that will become a major title rival next season and the predictable, entirely stupid accusations that he is a traitor and a snake for moving to Arsenal.

First things first: Petr Cech is a human being. He has lived in and around London for 11 years, he has a wife and two children who are school age - this isn't a computer game where players can move freely with no thought of their life off the pitch; Cech has been clear all along, he wants to stay in London.

Cech has announced he has joined Arsenal (Arsenal FC)

Why shouldn't he? Would you uproot your life and move abroad just because your current boss didn't want you to join a rival firm? Football is different, of course, but it's unrealistic to expect any person to make that kind of life-changing move.

As ever, Cech was classy in his departing message to Chelsea fans, stating that the only reason he wanted to leave was because he believed he had too much to give in his career to spend his final years wasting away on the bench. He sent a special thank you to Chelsea fans who he says he'll "never forget" - they shouldn't forget what he did for them either and wish the big goalkeeper good luck, even though it will hurt to see him at Arsenal.

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Since arriving at Chelsea in August 2004, Cech has been nothing short of the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. In his 333 Premier League matches he has kept 168 clean sheets, just two short of David James' record, despite playing 238 fewer matches.

Cases can be made for Edwin van der Sar, Pepe Reina and David Seaman, but few would argue that Cech, and former Manchester United star Peter Schmeichel, are the best goalkeepers to play in the division since it was created in 1992.

A huge part of a goalkeeper's success depends on the defence in front of him, obviously, and Chelsea's often defensive style has meant he has had to face less pressure than other keepers. But Cech has been a much a part of Chelsea's defensive success over his spell as they have been on his.

The commanding 6ft 5in keeper has made only a handful of mistakes in his career in Blue and while he suffered a dip in form following his skull injury and then in the ill-fated, pressing system of Andre Villas-Boas, Cech has always returned to the top of the tree, and was again named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2013-14, the season before last.

Thibaut Courtois was not chosen by Jose Mourinho as last season's No 1 because he was better than Cech; Mourinho had to replace a man who had been named the best in the division only three months earlier.

Courtois was picked because Mourinho was looking at it in regards to the future of this team five and 10 years down the line. The 22-year-old Courtois made it clear last summer that he would leave Stamford Bridge if he wasn't playing regularly, and there were plenty of suitors - Real Madrid included - who would have been happy to take the Belgian.

Cech set numerous records in his debut season (Getty Images)

Despite his undeserved, in the eyes of many, demotion, the veteran was outstanding whenever he played for the Blues last term, producing memorable, match-winning saves in narrow wins against Newcastle and Everton - points that helped the Blues win their first title since 2010.

Courtois is a rare talent and already one of the best in the world and Chelsea couldn't afford to lose him. It was a savvy decision by Mourinho where the head ruled the heart. But that isn't to say that he is better than the 33-year-old Cech on the first day of last season or, indeed, right now. Courtois endured a mid-season wobble and was replaced between the sticks; it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cech have a better season than Courtois in 2015-16.

As John Terry said, Arsenal will be making a fantastic signing if they manage to get Cech, a move which could add 12 to 15 points to the Gunners next season, a total that would've been enough to win Arsenal the league.

Not since the days of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann has Arsene Wenger had a truly world class goalkeeper at his disposal. Not only is Cech a brilliant shot-stopper his best asset is his ability to dominate the penalty box and command his defence. No offence to David Ospina, Wojciech Szczesny, Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabiansky and Vito Mannone, but they all have serious shortcomings that Cech does not possess.

It would be a massive coup for Arsenal. In five years we may be pointing to this signing, rather than Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil, as the one that turned the Gunners from fringe contenders into champions.

Cech was deposed by Thibaut Courtois last season (Getty Images)

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Chelsea fans should be disappointed and worried that Cech is moving to a rival, but there should be no ill feeling to the man. There is no question that he is Chelsea's greatest ever goalkeeper - that alone should have guaranteed that fans of the Blues respect his wishes to move to a club of his choosing. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be the case to some.

He has been an integral, irreplaceable part of the most successful period of Chelsea's 110-year history. Didier Drogba got the headlines for scoring with his last ever kick of a ball in Chelsea colours (until he returned), but Cech was the hero in Munich as Chelsea won the European Cup for the first time in 2012.

Named man of the match against Bayern, Cech saved an Arjen Robben penalty in extra-time and then two more, from Ivica Olic and then Bastian Schweinsteiger, in the nail-biting shoot-out.

Cech was named man of the match in Munich after saving three penalties (Getty Images)

Roberto Di Matteo's tired, defensive Chelsea - who registered just nine shots on goal to Bayern's 35 during 120 minutes of football - would not have recovered, surely, had Robben scored that penalty in extra-time. Juan Mata also missed Chelsea's first spot-kick in the shoot-out meaning the Blues were playing catch up until Cech's brilliant intervention.

With all due respect to local lad Peter Bonetti, rightly regarded as a Chelsea club legend after playing 729 matches in two spells for the Blues from 1959 to 1979, Cech is the best Chelsea have had. Despite The Cat's longevity and service to the club, which included League Cup, FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup medals, Bonetti never reached the same heights as Cech - something my Dad will attest to having watched both in their prime.

In his 485 matches for the Blues, sixth all-time for Chelsea, Cech has won four league titles, three Fa Cups, three League Cups, the Europa League and that Champions League.

Even last season, made No 2, Cech made a few comments in public about his unhappiness but never let it affect his mood in the dressing room, according to his team-mates, or his performances on the pitch when he was called on.

Chelsea legend Peter The Cat Bonetti (PA Archive/Press Association Images)

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In an ideal world Cech would not be sold to Arsenal. The Gunners will suddenly look like Chelsea's main title rivals, depending on what business Manchester City do this summer, if the Czech arrives at the Emirates.

But the big man has earned the right to decide his own fate. Some of it may well be motivated by wanting to prove Jose Mourinho wrong for picking Courtois ahead of him.

So what? That doesn't make him a traitor.

Cech is Chelsea's best ever has been nothing but an exemplary servant for the Blues since 2004. Courtois needs to be continuously excellent for the next 10 years to catch him up.

Good luck, Petr, wherever you end up.