Arsenal’s new signing Petr Cech has explained his reasons for leaving Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

The goalkeeper’s move to the Gunners was officially announced on Monday, with shot-stopper explaining why he felt it was the right time to leave the league champions.

“It was probably the hardest decision for me to go, but last year I realised that I am not in a phase of my career when I would sit on the bench,” he told Arsenal’s official website.

“I want to be playing. I want to have a chance to compete for my position in the team and I want to be useful for the team and do the usual stuff on the pitch week in, week out.

“I hope I will have that possibility to compete for my place here at Arsenal and I hope that I can bring something a little extra to the team that can help.”

The 33-year-old spent over 10-years as Chelsea’s number one, before losing his place to Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.

Despite Mourinho wanting to keep Chelsea’s long-standing keeper, Cech made the decision to leave the Blues, in search of regular first-team football.

Cech kept 228 clean-sheets in 493 games at Chelsea, 

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