FOUR-TIME Premier League champion Petr Cech believes Arsenal have all the ingredients to win the title with clean sheets being one of the most important.
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| Petr Cech celebrated his 170th Premier League clean sheet against Bournemouth |
When the final whistle blew at the end of Arsenal's 2-0 win against Bournemouth last night, the Czech international had clinched his 170th Premier League clean sheet – one more than the previous record tally notched up by David James during 18 years with Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth.
It took his Arsenal total to seven in 19 games, fast approaching the 50 per cent ratio he achieved with 163 clean sheets in 327 full games for Chelsea before his £10million summer move to the Emirates.
"I feel really proud because I believe that this is the best league in the world and one of the most difficult leagues to play for a goalkeeper so to have achieved such a record, obviously, it's a great personal achievement," Cech said afterwards. "So I'm really proud of that.
"But what makes me happy the most, probably, is that these clean sheets so far brought four Premier League trophies.
It took his Arsenal total to seven in 19 games, fast approaching the 50 per cent ratio he achieved with 163 clean sheets in 327 full games for Chelsea before his £10million summer move to the Emirates.
"I feel really proud because I believe that this is the best league in the world and one of the most difficult leagues to play for a goalkeeper so to have achieved such a record, obviously, it's a great personal achievement," Cech said afterwards. "So I'm really proud of that.
"But what makes me happy the most, probably, is that these clean sheets so far brought four Premier League trophies.
"So hopefully we will add clean sheets this season and we will celebrate at the end of the season, because this is far more important.
"Against Bournemouth, the most important thing was to win the game and obviously once we got the 2-0 lead and it was going towards the end of the game, then, I have to confess that I started thinking about the record.
"In the last ten minutes, I was checking the clock, thinking, 'Okay'. That was the moment when we were in the lead, we were in control, hopefully we can see this through - and we did a really good job.
"Although they had one chance at the end, we were in control, pretty much, the whole game and I thought that we had a really good game and it was a great response after the game we had at Southampton."
"Against Bournemouth, the most important thing was to win the game and obviously once we got the 2-0 lead and it was going towards the end of the game, then, I have to confess that I started thinking about the record.
"In the last ten minutes, I was checking the clock, thinking, 'Okay'. That was the moment when we were in the lead, we were in control, hopefully we can see this through - and we did a really good job.
"Although they had one chance at the end, we were in control, pretty much, the whole game and I thought that we had a really good game and it was a great response after the game we had at Southampton."
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| Cech now has the most clean sheets in Premier League history |
It is not just tightness at the back that has led Cech to the conclusion he can continue his personal trophy trail following his move from Stamford Bridge.
He also recognises, particularly after the 4-0 drubbing by Southampton on Boxing Day, that his new team-mates have the right mentality to finish top come May.
"I think that the great thing is that we go game by game," he said.
"We don't feel overwhelmed when we win. Obviously, you are disappointed when you lose a game like we did two days ago but the reaction and consistency of our work is very important and so far we've been doing that, preparing every game as well as we could. Now, we are in a really good position so hopefully we can carry on that.
He also recognises, particularly after the 4-0 drubbing by Southampton on Boxing Day, that his new team-mates have the right mentality to finish top come May.
"I think that the great thing is that we go game by game," he said.
"We don't feel overwhelmed when we win. Obviously, you are disappointed when you lose a game like we did two days ago but the reaction and consistency of our work is very important and so far we've been doing that, preparing every game as well as we could. Now, we are in a really good position so hopefully we can carry on that.
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| Wenger's men are one of the title favourites |
"Everybody wants to win the league and we are one of those teams. You can see that every game is very difficult and we need to really compete to make sure that we win points. So far, we are in a very good position. Now going into the New Year, we are in a position where we can actually aim for our targets."
Certainly Cech will make sure all in the Arsenal dressing room are focusing on every minor detail between now and the end of the season.
After all, he even resorted to his own family chronicle before claiming this latest record – not even trusting to the professional statisticians to get the numbers straight.
"It's great when somebody gives you the record but I want to have the record when I know I have really done it in the right way," Cech said.
Certainly Cech will make sure all in the Arsenal dressing room are focusing on every minor detail between now and the end of the season.
After all, he even resorted to his own family chronicle before claiming this latest record – not even trusting to the professional statisticians to get the numbers straight.
"It's great when somebody gives you the record but I want to have the record when I know I have really done it in the right way," Cech said.
"My father has a book where ever since I started playing games, he wrote down the games that I played in - a kind of a chronicle where people can keep track of my games.
"As I was approaching the number of David James and people kept reminding me, I had a look because I really wanted to make sure that I knew when it could happen."
And now that is has?
"I will keep the shirt and once I wash it, then I will make the players sign it," he said. "Just to have the memory of the game when it happened. But I have no other plans - I'm happy that we got three points. And now I can go home and rest."
"As I was approaching the number of David James and people kept reminding me, I had a look because I really wanted to make sure that I knew when it could happen."
And now that is has?
"I will keep the shirt and once I wash it, then I will make the players sign it," he said. "Just to have the memory of the game when it happened. But I have no other plans - I'm happy that we got three points. And now I can go home and rest."
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