Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech delivered a man-of-the-match performance against Watford to finally set a new record for Premier League clean sheets, reports The S*n.
The 35-year-old kept his 200th clean sheet in the top-flight, having saved a penalty from Watford’s Troy Deeney to earn it. Cech had gone 10 games in the league without shutting out a side after he kept his 199th clean sheet and he revealed his delight to Arsenal.com.
“It’s been a while and I have to say that it’s never happened that I’ve had to wait 11 games for a clean sheet,” he said.
“In the stretch it was quite frustrating at times. We had so many games where we had a big result, especially at home when you take the games against Everton and Crystal Palace.”
Cech has come under some criticism this season, conceding 41 goals in 30 league games, but he responded perfectly at the Emirates Stadium. The former Chelsea shot-stopper apologised on Twitter for making mistakes that gifted Brighton & Hove Albion a win in their previous game, but he atoned on Sunday.
The penalty save was also the first spot kick he’s saved in the Premier League since joining Arsenal from Chelsea in 2015, so it was an extra special day for the experienced keeper to bury his demons.
Arsenal’s win over Watford saw them open up a five-point lead over seventh-placed Burnley, while cutting the deficit to fifth-placed Chelsea to eight points. It’s also consecutive victories in all competitions for the Gunners too, having earned a morale-boosting Europa League win over AC Milan in midweek.
