Arsenal fans demand Cech starts Europa final against Chelsea ahead of No1 Bernd Leno
Keeper is retiring at the end of the season, and Gooners want boss Unai Emery to give him a perfect send off
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ARSENAL fans are demanding Petr Cech start the Europa League final against Chelsea ahead of Bernd Leno.
The goalkeeper is retiring at the end of the season, and Gooners want the 36-year-old to be given the perfect send-off.
It would be no surprise to see the Czech stopper handed the gloves for the finale - he has played 10 times in the competition this season.
First-choice keeper Leno has featured three times along the way.
In a SunSport poll, a whopping 64 per cent of readers want Cech to start the final in Baku.
Considering Leno has impressed between the sticks this season, the 36 per cent backing for the German is a little surprising.
But if Cech starts the final, Gunners supporters will be hoping he doesn't have to face any penalties.
The veteran has saved just ONE of 17 spot-kicks this season in all competitions, excluding shootouts.
He has saved just five of 37 in his career, a success rate of 13.5 per cent.
CECH BETTER SAVE RATE
But in Leno, the alternative, is only marginally better.
The 27-year-old hasn't saved ANY of the seven spot-kicks he has faced in the Premier League, but his career success rate is better than Cech's.
He has stopped nine of 46 attempts hitting the back of the net during regulation time - a 19.6 per cent success rate.
So if the game goes to a penalty shoot-out, there wouldn't be much to choose between who would be the best foil for the Gunners against Chelsea.
But Cech, who is releasing a song when he retires, has experience with Arsenal of beating the Blues, who of course he used to play for.
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He started for Arsenal in the 2017 Community Shield, which went to a shoot-out.
But he didn't save any penalties - after Gary Cahill scored Thibaut Courtois blazed over and Alvaro Morata hit the post.
Arsenal triumphed 4-1 on spot-kicks after the game finished 1-1.
