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After almost 15 seasons, 434 appearances in the league and a record 200 clean sheets, there is no doubt that Petr Cech is in the twilight of his career.
Adored by everyone associated with the game, Cech will leave a lasting impression when he eventually hangs up his boots, partly because of the true goalkeeping genius of the man and partly because of the fact that he overcame a near career-ending injury he sustained in 2006.
A nasty collision with Reading player Stephen Hunt left the goalkeeper with a depressed skull fracture, forcing him to undergo a surgery. It remains one of the nastiest injuries recorded in England till date but Cech showed great valor to come back to the game.
Following his move to Arsenal in 2015, Cech's career slowly started its downward spiral. To a certain extent, it was due to Arsenal's own inconsistencies on the pitch but the player himself has been showing signs of aging.
He has been making rudimentary errors of late, something so uncharacteristic of the Czech. As a result, he has come under fire and we believe it won't be long before he calls it a day.
On that note, we look at 5 possible replacements for Cech - some of them have been linked with the club as well.
#5 Timo Horn (FC Cologne)
A relatively new keeper in the block, Timo Horn has been impressive at Cologne for the last couple of the years, despite the club's current situation.
The 24-year-old is a product of their own academy and made his senior debut in the Bundesliga in 2014, first conceding a goal only in his fifth game. He was even voted as their Player of the Season in 2016.
Prior to making his debut in the Bundesliga, Horn played a crucial part in their promotion from the second division. He kept 27 clean sheets over the two years and thus was key in their rise.
At 6' 4", he boasts great command over his box and his reflexes are worth a mention too. He has represented Germany at all youth levels and is held in very high regard.
This season, Cologne are on the brink of relegation but Horn has still managed to keep 7 clean sheets in all competitions.
Video: A glimpse of Timo Horn
#4 Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig)
Leipzig's rise has been quite miraculous to say the least. The club were founded only in 2009 and in just seven years, they were plying their trade in Germany's top division and competing for trophies.
A key member of their squad who helped the cause was goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. He was signed from Red Bull Salzburg in 2015 and has been a mainstay between the sticks for the club.
He had an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool where he failed to make a senior appearance for the club and was sent out on loan spells. But now, the Hungarian has become hot property and is a transfer target for Arsenal and Chelsea.
He is nearing 100 games for the German club and has been Hungary's no.1 since 2015. An intimidating figure, Gulacsi is very quick off the line and is just as adept at saving shots with his feet as he is with his hands.
He will be a great addition to Arsenal if they can persuade Leipzig to enter into negotiations.
Video: Gulacsi in action
#3 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
Jan Oblak's amazing rise continues day-by-day as he continues to make a case for himself at the big stage. The Slovenian has been Atletico Madrid's no.1 for more than 3 seasons now and is widely regarded as one of the best in the world at the moment.
Diego Simeone's inclination towards a solid defense and Atletico's vastly experienced and established defenders may have helped his cause but there have been times when Oblak has had to be at his absolute best to bring glory to his team.
The 25-year-old has made more than 150 appearances for the club and has kept 90 clean sheets in the process, conceding only 95 goals. Remarkable, to say the least.
He has been linked with a move to Arsenal for quite some time and there have been rumours about the same very recently as well. He will undoubtedly be their dream target but there are question marks over the feasibility of a move.
Video: The best of Jan Oblak
#2 Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer's Bernd Leno has slowly been making a name for himself as a result of his exploits in Germany. The keeper is widely touted to give stiff competition to Ter-Stegen for a starting place in Germany's national team once Manuel Neuer steps down.
This is Leno's 7th season in the top flight and he has already made more than 300 appearances for the club. He is one clean sheet away from a century and at just 26 years old, those are some scary numbers he has racked up so far.
After finishing 12th last season, Leverkusen are currently fourth in the league and are fighting hard for a top-four finish.
Leno's brilliant positioning and quick reading of the game have been pivotal this season. He has kept 11 clean sheets in 35 games for the German club this campaign.
He has been extensively linked with The Gunners as well and will prove to be a shrewd buy if they can rope him in.
Video: Leno's best saves
#1 Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Stoke City's Jack Butland will be Arsenal's best bet to replace Petr Cech. His exposure in the Premier League, lower market value and Stoke's possible relegation are all key points that come into the picture, making Butland a highly probable option.
A Birmingham City academy graduate, Butland made the switch to Stoke City in 2013. He struggled initially to become a regular and had to go on loan spells. He became their no.1 ahead of the 2015-16 season and has established himself as one of the league's best.
He has made 83 appearances for Stoke and is also in contention to start for the England National team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. There have also been rumours about possible interest from Arsenal.
A very agile and excellent shot-stopper, Butland is accustomed to the ferocity of the Premier League and can prove to be the perfect replacement for Cech. He is still only 25 years old, meaning we are yet to see the best he has to offer.
Video: The best of Butland this season
