Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has spoken of his admiration for Arsenal No1 Petr Cech.

Dubravka had a poster of Cech on his bedroom door when he was a teenager.

The Slovakian, 29, said: “Petr Cech is a hero of mine. I had a poster of Iker Casillas — and one of Cech.

“When he had his head injury, I sent him a message on his official website. I was 17 at the time.

“The day before he got injured, I injured myself as well. I went for a cross and I hit the striker with my head. I was concussed.

“So I remember it well but he probably got thousands of messages and didn't see it.

“I met him for the first time in 2010 in the Champions League against Chelsea when I was at Žilina in Slovakia.

“We spoke a little bit but I was looking at him and thinking, 'I can't believe I am playing against him'. We swapped jerseys after the game.

“Then we met last season again when he was at Arsenal. I asked him if he remembered me or not and he said, 'Of course'.

“I was surprised because of how many keepers he must have met. It was nice of him to spend some time with me after that game and we changed jerseys again.

“I'd like him to sign them. I have a special place in my apartment where I hang up the jerseys."