There can be little doubting Petr Cech’s ability between the sticks. The 34-year-old has plied his trade in the Premier League for over a decade and remains one of its greatest ever shot stoppers.
Furthermore, his impressive form hasn’t waned since his somewhat surprising move to Arsenal in 2015. His sharp reflexes and expert distribution has endured despite his age and change of surroundings.
However, there is one area in which Cech has struggled. In fact, the ex-Chelsea man can’t seem to come close to a penalty in recent seasons.
Just four years ago and Cech was renowned as one of the finest penalty savers in world football.
The 34-year-old famously saved an Arjen Robben spot kick in the 2012 Champions League final to keep Chelsea dreams alive in extra time. Plunging to his left-hand side, he smothered the Dutchman’s effort and pounced on the rebound.
In addition, he was on hand to help out in the ensuing penalty shootout. Having previously denied Ivica Olic, Cech tipped Bastian Schweinsteiger’s strike onto the post in the final round.
Consequently, his acrobatics allowed Didier Drogba to step up to the plate and deliver the winning penalty.
Incredibly too, Cech had guessed correctly for all five of Bayern Munich’s penalty kicks. His stops from Olic and Schweinsteiger added to the 16 saves he had previously made from spot kicks in regulation time in his career.
However, the Arsenal man has failed to build upon his Champions League final heroics. In fact, he dived the right way more times in that single shootout than he has in his entire Gunners career so far.
Since inheriting the role of Arsenal’s number one, Cech has stared down the barrel of seven penalty kicks. However, as outlined by ESPN, not only have all seven been scored, but the 34-year-old has guessed incorrectly every time.
This rather concerning run began on February 14, 2016. When facing a penalty from Jamie Vardy, Cech flung himself to the left of the goal, only to see the ball fired into the opposite corner.
Lionel Messi is next on the growing list of penalty takers to beat Cech. Despite having failed to score past him in 2012, the Argentinian found the bottom left corner with relative ease and the goal at his mercy.
The next five penalties have all come this season, outlining just how haphazard Arsenal’s number one has been in recent months. With Cech completely misreading his run-up, Robert Snodgrass scored a consolation goal for Hull City with few worries.
Jermaine Defoe then psyched out the Czech international by thumping his effort down the middle, a technique reciprocated by Harry Kane in the north London derby.
In no mood to buck the trend, Callum Wilson swept home a penalty at the Emirates too. Furthermore and lastly for the time being, Charlie Adam sent Cech reaching for thin air in a 3-1 loss for Stoke City.
Whatever the cause of the issue may be, Cech certainly needs to reevaluate his technique when facing penalties. It’s perhaps clear the 34-year-old is no longer feared from 12-yards.
The ex-Chelsea man has dived to his right-hand side three times and to his left on four occasions, but all in vain.
While the laws of probability suggest Cech will get it right in the not too distant future, he’s currently being made a mockery. Besides, if he can’t seem to guess correctly, takers should simply hit the target and plan their celebrations.