Arsenal Transfer News: Petr Cech Dismisses Chelsea Reunion Rumours

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has said there's been "no contact" with former club Chelsea following rumours the 36-year-old could move back to Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Bernd Leno in north London. 

Gunners manager Unai Emery is expected to install Leno, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in June for £22.5 million, as his new No. 1, but Cech told the official Arsenal website (h/t Goal's Patrick Gleeson) he's ready to fight:

"I have a contract with Arsenal. I am concentrating on this season, on the competition between the goalkeepers because we have plenty of options.

"I'm doing my best to show to the manager that I can be in the starting lineup when the season starts.

"That's my aim and, as for the speculation, I don't really follow it. I've had no contact with Chelsea."

Thibaut Courtois' place as Chelsea No. 1 looks uncertain amid speculation of a move to Real Madrid, and the Telegraph's Sam Dean reported former West Ham United 'keeper Rob Green is set to sign, pending a medical.

Cech reigned at Stamford Bridge for 11 years and was the indisputable king between the posts for most of that, with Courtois only cutting in front of the Czech veteran in his last season in southwest London (2014-15).

Leno has been brought in after the goalkeeper position needed an injection of youth and with David Ospina failing to properly threaten the starting place. Former England and Arsenal stopper David Seaman recently backed Cech to still have an impact at the Emirates Stadium, per Yahoo Sport UK:

Cech has missed 11 of a possible 114 Premier League appearances in his three seasons at Arsenal, but his age means he's not as capable of sustaining the same skill and fitness level throughout a busy season.

He'll encounter stiff competition in Leno, 26, a goalkeeper who was once touted as the long-term successor to Manuel Neuer in the Germany net, a feat he could still achieve after showing promise at Arsenal early on:

Cech's success at Chelsea, where he won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one UEFA Champions League and a UEFA Europa League crown, saw him claim renown as arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.

But he's further from his prime now, and a lack of clarity regarding Courtois' future has seemingly put the Blues under pressure to assess all their options between the posts.

It's likely that one of Cech or Ospina will leave the Emirates this summer in order to give themselves a fairer attempt at first-team football, although the former appears content fighting for a spot in his current setting.

Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League last season, one place ahead of Arsenal, but the temptation to join Maurizio Sarri's project at his former stomping ground seemingly won't lure Cech away from Arsenal.