Petr Cech Owes Chelsea Nothing and Should Make Transfer Move to Arsenal

After a decade of service, what does Petr Cech owe Chelsea? Nothing.

Arsenal have come calling for him according to the Daily Star and if the Gunners follow through on their interest, the Czech stopper should grab the chance quicker than Arsene Wenger can zip up his overcoat.

OK, Wenger has been known to struggle with his zipper at times, but the point is Cech shouldn't allow there to be any similar snags ahead of a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal aren't Chelsea, but they're a club of considerable proportions and capable of giving Cech the opportunities he will be seeking in what remains of his career.

Watching Chelsea's greatest goalkeeper move across London to a rival will be hard to stomach for fans, but that's not Cech's problem.

His biggest problem right now is getting game time and if that isn't forthcoming at Stamford Bridge, he should move on elsewhere to guarantee first-team action.

The situation at Chelsea isn't of Cech's doing. It's a simple case of football and the cycles in which the game moves.

A young upstart 10 years ago, Cech has found himself in the same position as Carlo Cudicini, whose No. 1 jersey he took when Jose Mourinho was first apppointed Chelsea boss in 2004.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Cudicini was the established goalkeeper back then and was forced to play back-up to the more talented Cech.

There is a slight difference, however. Whereas Cudicini knew it was the right decision for Mourinho to make, Cech is all too aware there is hardly a gulf in class between him and Chelsea's current first-choice Thibaut Courtois.

It's cigarette paper stuff and that will frustrate him.

Cech is a goalkeeper of considerable class and shouldn't be on the bench. At most clubs in the Premier League he would feel hard done by if he wasn't No. 1 and there is a case for it at Chelsea, too.

It's not just about talent, though. Cech is competing with factors well outside of his control: it's about age and the future.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

In five years he will be close to retirement and Courtois in his prime.

Mourinho has played the long game with his goalkeepers this season. It was either play Courotis now or lose him forever and he rightly chose the former, much to Cech's detriment.

It's not about reputations or relationships. It's about Chelsea, the bigger picture and needs must.

So why should Cech sit happily and play the role of back-up all in the name of loyalty when he knows he is talented enough to be playing elsewhere?

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Loyalty went out the window when Courtois ousted him back in August.

Whether it's Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool, Cech has the right to put his career first.

Cech has given so much to Chelsea. He's won league titles, saved decisive penalties in Champions League finals—he's even put his life on the line for the club.

He can hardly be faulted for wanting to play out the rest of his career, not sit out.

It's clear that won't come at Chelsea, so it's high time he moved on.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes