Ever since the infamous David Seaman finally decided to hang up his boots with the Gunners, Arsenal Football Club have invariably seemed to fall short in the goalkeeping department with almost with every passing season.

He may traditionally prove to be a very astute dealer for outfield players in the transfer market, yet when it to comes to sourcing adequate shot-stoppers to fill the void between the sticks at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger hasn’t exactly covered himself in much glory recently.

From the unpredictable days of Jens Lehman patrolling the goal line for the Gunners, to the equally uncertain times defined by the likes of Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski frequently costing their team major points in the Premier League – Arsenal’s need for a solid goal-keeper has simply been long overdue in the modern era.

That is where Chelsea’s Emirates bound Petr Cech seemingly steps in however. Wenger is reportedly on the verge of completing an £11 million deal to land the experienced Czech Republic international, whose know-how at club football’s highest level will surely aid the Gunners in their cause next season.

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Even with such an important notion on board though, does this particular deal actually represent a bright move for Arsenal in the long-run?

There is no doubt that Petr Cech himself is still a top class keeper in the current footballing climate – that much goes without saying. The former Blues no. 1 has seen pretty much all club football has to offer throughout his successful career, proving a massive asset for Chelsea both in domestic campaigns and when it came to the Champions League.

Yes, there have been times where Cech’s overall quality has been somewhat over-rated by the Stamford Bridge faithful in the past, for he has never been better than the likes of Gianluigi Buffon or Manuel Neuer on the world stage. He will however represent a key player for Arsene Wenger in the next few years at least, offering a reliability between the sticks that neither David Ospina nor Wojciech Szczesny can really provide.

In previous seasons Arsenal have dropped key points consistently thanks to the unpredictable nature of their goal-keepers. The 33-year-old Czech Republic star therefore represents a lot more certainty for the Gunners ahead of the new campaign. He will provide Arsenal with a foundation of composure and trust that the Emirates faithful haven’t truly experienced in a long while.

On the pitch then, this particular deal seems to have success written all over it – but as we all know when it comes to the modern day world of football transfer activity and it’s subsequent consequences – it comes as no surprise that there is perhaps more to this move than initially meets the eye.

Petr Cech will certainly do well at the Emirates next season, but for grand a total £11 million this summer, Arsenal haven’t exactly been financially shrewd in this instance. The player himself may represent one of the best keepers currently operating in the modern game, but he is nonetheless Chelsea’s back-up choice at the minute, and no substitute goal-keeper should ever arguably command such a hefty transfer fee.

The current Blues man is also getting on now in terms of age, and will not provide guaranteed security for the Gunners going beyond the next couple of seasons. At 33-years-old Arsenal are ultimately shelling out a great deal for their latest target, and as Jose Mourinho’s team clearly no longer need Cech at Stamford Bridge next term, perhaps this deal only serves to outline the increasing gap between Arsene Wenger’s side and the financially boosted Chelsea in the cold light of day.

If the former Sparta Prague man successfully helps the Gunners land more silverware throughout the 2015/16 season however, none of that will ultimately matter. This transfer is a gamble as it stands, no doubt – but it could be just the move Arsenal need to secure their short-term future.

With both David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny potentially likely to move on from the Emirates in the wake of Petr Cech’s recent arrival though, Arsenal still haven’t really solved their long-term keeper woes with this immediate stop gap.

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