Arsene Wenger hails his ‘perfect’ No. 1 Petr Cech
The 33-year-old will equal David James’ total of 169 clean sheets if he can keep out north London rivals Tottenham tomorrow.
Other than the opening weekend of the league season in which he conceded two soft West Ham goals, Cech has enjoyed a sound start to his Arsenal career having moved across London from Chelsea during the summer.
The majority of Cech’s clean sheets to date of course came during his spell at Chelsea where he won the league title on four occasions.
It was well-documented that Blues boss and Wenger’s long-term adversary Jose Mourinho was not keen on selling the Czech Republic international to Arsenal — but the Gunners got their man and he has impressed since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.
“He has given first of all his experience,” Wenger said of his first-choice goalkeeper.
“He gives leadership because he is a leader on the pitch, he talks, he is brilliant intellectually, his analysis capacity is very strong, he is highly focused. It’s difficult to find a problem with him because he is the perfect goalkeeper.”
Wenger was the only manager across Europe’s top five leagues not to sign an outfield player in the summer transfer window but he remains delighted with improving his goalkeeping department.
“Cech had an agreement with his chairman that he could go for a certain price anywhere,” he said.
“We are not anywhere, but we are somewhere, and we managed to get him here and we are happy with it.”
Having first moved to Chelsea 11 years ago from Rennes, Cech has become one of the most enduring Premier League goalkeepers ever.
To date he has played 228 less games in the division than James, but could equal his clean-sheet tally tomorrow.
“I believe that there is no coincidence,” Wenger replied when asked about Cech homing in on the total.
“It is just class. As well, not only class, but dedication and consistency. I’m not surprised by this kind of achievement because he is absolutely dedicated to his job.”
Cech turned 33 in May but Wenger feels there are plenty more clean sheets and appearances left for the ex-Sparta Prague man before donning his gloves for the last time.
“He plays in a position where age is less of a restriction than in any other job (on the pitch),” Wenger added.
“Until 37 or 38 I consider that a goalkeeper can be completely able to play at this level.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham striker Harry Kane is expecting an Arsenal backlash tomorrow.
While Spurs registered two wins in four days against Aston Villa and Anderlecht this week, the Gunners head into the derby on the back of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich.
As a result, Kane is expecting Arsenal to feel added motivation after Wednesday’s heavy defeat.
“They took a bit of a hiding in midweek and they are going to want to put that right,” Kane said. “We have come off two very good wins so we are going into the game on a high and hopefully we can finish the week off well.
“It was not a good night for them (against Bayern). A lot has been said about that result and, as fellow players, you know they will come out firing to try and put things right. So we know what to expect.”
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