Arsenal's Petr Cech Announces Retirement Plans at End of 2018-19 Season

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced he will retire at the end of this season, when his contract at the Emirates Stadium expires.

Former Chelsea stalwart Cech started this season as manager Unai Emery's first choice but has since lost his place to Bernd Leno. After making 623 appearances for the two London clubs, Cech announced on Tuesday that he will hang up his gloves at the end of the 2018-19 campaign:

The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League, and Cech will hope to help the club clinch UEFA Champions League qualification in what will be his final professional season.

Cech, 36, joined Chelsea from French club Rennes in 2004 and made 494 appearances for the west London outfit over the course of his 11-year stay at Stamford Bridge. 

There, he won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2012, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.

After being replaced as first choice by Thibaut Courtois, Cech left for London rivals Arsenal in 2015 and added a fifth FA Cup to his collection. Despite struggling to maintain the same standards later in his career, Cech drew tributes from journalists upon announcing his retirement plans and was hailed as a Premier League great:

Arsenal still have a realistic chance at silverware in the FA Cup and will host Manchester United in the fourth round later on January 25. Cech captained the Gunners to a 3-0 third-round win over Blackpool, so he could keep his place as Emery's primary choice in that competition.

The north Londoners are also through to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 and are due to face BATE Borisov in February.

After having some trouble transitioning to Emery's system playing out from the back earlier this season, a hamstring injury saw Cech sidelined and Leno drafted into the No. 1 spot.

Cech will take his leave of the English top flight 15 years after arriving in London, and WhoScored.com celebrated his status as the top stopper in the land for much of that time:

Cech has kept 207 clean sheets in 443 Premier League appearances, per Transfermarkt.

The veteran will look to feature as much as possible for Emery's side between now and May, when Arsenal will hope to give him a send-off with major silverware.