Petr Cech was always going to be under a great deal of scrutiny upon joining Arsenal from Chelsea this past summer. A stalwart for 11-years at Stamford Bridge, Cech was Arsenal’s only first-team signing of the window, leaving many supporters scratching their heads even as they celebrated the Czech’s arrival at the Emirates.
As it turns out, Cech has been a wonderful addition to the Gunners’ squad and has played a significant role in Arsenal’s title push, which seems to be a legitimate one in a wide open Premier League season.
And as much as he prefers to talk about team performances and team accolades, he has been unable to ignore his most significant individual achievement as a player: the record for clean sheets in the Premier League.
With Arsenal’s 2-0 victory this past Saturday against Sunderland, Cech drew level with David James, each having 169 clean sheets for their careers. Cech’s accomplishment is magnified when one considers that he has equalled James’ record in 223 fewer appearances. He has been every bit the dominant ‘keeper for Arsenal that fans expected when he signed.
Cech recently sat down for a conversation with Arsenal Player to discuss the record, and noted, among other things, that he once thought the record impossible to break.
I’m not really into the records and the individual trophies. But some achievements you cannot ignore and to be in a position where I can break the all-time clean sheet record is something that I never thought I would be able to do.
When I came over, people started talking about the clean sheets and the records, and I thought 169 was impossible. I would have to be here a long time, play every game and you don’t get a clean sheet in every game. The fact that I managed to come to that point is a great achievement.
While the current accolades are certainly meaningful to Cech, he also talked about playing for a legacy, to be remembered in a sport that can so often chew players up and spit them out without many fans remembering their names or accomplishments.
To be able to carve out a legacy, a set of achievements that leave fans with permanent memories of a player is important to the 33-year old, who knows he is closer to the end of his stellar career than the beginning.
I’m glad that people are noticing what I try to achieve. As a player you try to achieve something that people remember you for. Not only that you score one goal or make one good save, you want to set the example that this is not the one-season or one-game wonder.
You want to make sure you compete and perform every single game, that you prepare and show the example that you can stay consistent and at the top level as long as possible. I’m really happy that these things I’ve achieved, people realise that I’ve worked to achieve it, so the recognition is great.
Cech will have an opportunity to grab the record all for himself next Monday as Arsenal host Manchester City in a match that may play a huge role in determining the title winners come May.
