Long-time Chelsea goalkeeper and three-time Premier League Golden Glove award winner Petr Cech is the first acquisition for Arsenal this summer after he signed a four-year deal reportedly worth around £10 million.
Cech had more than 400 appearances in 11 seasons for Chelsea but last year, saw very limited playing time, only seven league appearances, with the arrival of a much younger goalie at Stamford Bridge in 23-year-old Belgian Thibaut Courtois.
The 33-year-old posted a letter on Twitter, and a portion of it read: "Life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. Last summer, things changed and I understood I was no longer the first-choice keeper, but I felt it was not the right time for me to go."
"During the season, it became clear that my situation would not improve and - as I know I am not at the stage of my career where I want to be on the bench - I made my decision to move and look for new challenges," Cech wrote.
In the letter, Cech thanked everyone working for Chelsea and all of the club's loyal supporters.
Cech has won a total of 13 trophies in his stint with Chelsea, including one Champions League and four Premier League titles, since he joined the club in 2004, as reported by BBC Sports.
"I'm really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can't wait to join up for the pre-season. I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing in the Premier League," Cech said in a statement posted on the Gunners' website.
"When Arsène Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear," he added.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was happy with the addition of Cech to his team's lineup, and his statement on the club's website read: "Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time, and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us. He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding keepers in the world, and he will add great strength to our squad."
