Chelsea vs Arsenal: Unai Emery will commit ‘sackable offence’ if he starts Petr Cech in Europa League final
Unai Emery will be committing a ‘sackable offence’ if he chooses to play Petr Cech in the Europa League final against Chelsea as it is the biggest match of Arsenal’s season.This is according to Tony Cascarino, the former Blues striker, who says picking Cech makes no sense in such a huge game as he is well below the level of Bernd Leno, the Gunners’ first-choice goalkeeper.Cech has been Arsenal’s Europa League goalkeeper – but that doesn’t mean he should play in the finalGetty Images - Getty3
Cech has been Arsenal’s Europa League goalkeeper – but that doesn’t mean he should play in the final
It may be Cech’s final match as a professional footballer, as he is retiring at the end of the season, and it may be against his former club, but emotion must be put to the side for the good of the club.Arsenal supporters have called for Cech, 37, to be dropped from the starting XI for the final since reports emerged claiming he will be returning to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season to become Chelsea’s new director of football.And while Cascarino agrees that Cech should not play the Baku showpiece, it isnot because of his affiliation with Chelsea or his potential move back to west London.“Petr Cech should not play in the Europa League final for Arsenal,” Cascarino wrote in The Times. “Not because he is due to join their opponents Chelsea as a sporting director but because, at this stage in his career, he is a far inferior player to their No1 goalkeeper Bernd Leno. “Id almost go so far as saying that if a manager picks a second-choice goalkeeper in a game of such magnitude then it is a sackable offence. Its total negligence.“Cech is the No2 at Arsenal for a reason. The club signed Leno for 19 million from Bayer Leverkusen last summer because Cech was on the wane and it will be ridiculous if the 37-year-old starts the biggest game of their season next Wednesday.“There is so much on the line: a major trophy and the glory that brings to the club and its fans, Champions League qualification, the money you get from reaching that competition. Winning will have a huge impact on the calibre of new signings Arsenal will be able to attract in the transfer window. You simply cannot justify picking Cech with so much at stake.Leno, who is Arsenal’s No1, should start the Europa League finalGetty Images - Getty3
Leno, who is Arsenal’s No1, should start the Europa League final
“I understand why clubs use cup competitions to keep their No 2 goalkeepers fit and focused during the course of the season but this is the biggest match of Arsenals season, the biggest match since Unai Emery was appointed head coach, and there are no games after this one, so there is no need for Cech to be kept sharp. This is the final match of a difficult campaign and it is clear that they would have a better chance of winning with Leno in goal.“Arsenal fans should not be worried because he is probably going back to Chelsea after this match; they should be worried because he is clearly nowhere near the goalkeeper that he used to be.”Cascarino compared the situation of playing Cech in next week’s final with Watford’s decision to start Heurelho Gomes in the FA Cup final, as it may be the Brazilian goalkeeper’s last ever appearance in football.Gomes was given the chance to play an FA Cup final at Wembley in perhaps his last ever match in professional footballGetty Images - Getty3
Gomes was given the chance to play an FA Cup final at Wembley in perhaps his last ever match in professional football
Javi Gracia’s decision backfired, with Manchester City thrashing Watford 6-0 at Wembley last Saturday to complete the first ever domestic treble.Cascarino continued: “Watford sided with sentiment and played their second-choice goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes in the FA Cup final to Manchester City which they lost 6-0 and I thought that was a ridiculous decision too.“They are never going to challenge for the Premier League or the Champions League, and its unlikely they will get in another FA Cup final for some time, yet they played a weaker goalkeeper than their No 1 Ben Foster purely because it might be Gomess final match.“I think the Arsenal players will be nervous wrecks about the prospect of Cech playing. They will want Leno to play in Baku.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
  • England Women vs Denmark Women (Saturday, 1pm) talkSPORT
  • Newport County vs Tranmere (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT
  • Charlton vs Sunderland (Sunday, 3pm) talkSPORT
  • Aston Villa vs Derby County (Monday, 3pm) talkSPORT
  • Chelsea vs Arsenal (Wednesday May 29, 8pm) talkSPORT
  • England Women vs New Zealand Women (Saturday June 1, 1pm) talkSPORT
  • Tottenham vs Liverpool (Saturday June 1, 8pm) talkSPORT
“The defenders in particular will feel far more comfortable with Leno behind them. Cech has never been great with the ball at his feet but he has particularly struggled this season when trying to play it out of defence.“The centre backs will want to know that they can play the ball back to their goalkeeper and not worry about surrendering possession in dangerous areas because of sloppy passes.“If Cech plays they will be praying that he clears it straight up the pitch.”
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos had a tough season in Madrid and are battling for their places

โยนาส โอลส์สัน อดีตกัปตันทีมเวสต์บรอมวิชบอกว่า เจอร์เก้ […]
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp involved in touchline row with
Messi scored twice for Barcelona

Liverpool feel they are destined to win the Champions League this season, Sadio Mane has exclusively told talkSPORT. The Reds will take on Tottenham in an all-English final in Madrid on Saturday - where we will bring you LIVE commentary from the Wanda Metropolitano stadium. getty 2 Liverpool and Tottenham will lock horns for the…
Sadio Mane EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool players feel th
Manchester City and Watford are set for big paydays in the FA Cup final

West Ham host Arsenal on Wednesday evening looking to build on their surprise 1-0 victory over London rivals Chelsea on Saturday. West Ham vs Arsenal: TV channel, stream, kick-off time, odds
Where can I watch Arsenal vs Chelsea? TV channel, kick-off
City were denied a memorable win by VAR

Jaap Stam hits back at David Moyes' comments on Man United not progressing David Moyes tells talkSPORT Manchester United star should be axed Man United have not progressed since I was
Lukaku has only managed six Premier League goals this season.

Lewis Morgan. The Black Cats are reportedly winning the race to sign Celtic winger Lewis Morgan on loan. The 22-year-old played for Jack Ross at St Mirren and is keen to move to Sunderland rather than Aberdeen, who are also in the hunt. The winger scored 18 goals as St Mirren, led by Jack Ross, won the Scottish Championship with ease. Stephen
Sunderland AFC transfer news: Celtic winger Lewis Morgan
22. St James' Park, Newcastle

Valencia travel to Eibar next time out as they look to build on their win this evening. Manchester United will find out their opponents in the next round of the Champions League on the 17th of
Man Utd vs Valencia line-ups: David De Gea and Paul Pogba
We get our first glimpse of the Manchester City team

United made in seven straight home league victories at Bramall Lane with a comfortable success over ten-man Rotherham. Jack O'Connell's early opener put the Blades in control, before Mark Duffy added a second after the break, with visiting skipper Will Vaulks seeing red in the first period for a challenge on George Baldock.
Sheffield United 2 Rotherham United 0, as it happened: Story
Mbappe would be a huge miss for PSG

Argentinian coach Santiago Solari has been appointed Real Madrid manager on a permanent basis until June 30, 2021. Solari took over on an interim arrangement on October 29 following the sacking of former boss Julen Lopetegui, and promptly transformed the club's form, winning four games in a row to register the best start for a manager in the
Real Madrid appoint Santiago Solari as permanent head coach
Kyle Lafferty could not make an impact from the bench

UEFA Europa League Match Report for Salzburg v Celtic on 4 October 2018, includes all goals and incidents. Have your say on the game in the comments. Premier League Team of the Season: Salah
Red Bull Salzburg vs RB Leipzig 29.11.2018. - Europa League
The former Spurs boss is famous for giving interviews from his car on deadline day

Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria has ended his season-long loan deal with Rangers and will return to Anfield immediately. Rangers announced the news on the club's website, saying the 21-year-old
What Sheyi Ojo will bring to Rangers and why Steven Gerrard
Even a player as good as Virgil van Dijk would not make a difference at Arsenal
Raheem Sterling: Manchester City star opens up about the
How the Nou Camp looked as Barcelona despatched Manchester United.

Despite a series of mistakes last term Emery has kept faith in Petr Cech in all five of Arsenal's Premier League games thus far, meaning Leno had to wait until Thursday night to make his debut. I came to the club to play every game. But I think to move to a bigger club, another country, it needs maybe a little bit of time.
Transfer news live: Arsenal legend proposes - football.london