Petr Cech says Arsenal’s first clean sheet of the season had been on the cards even though they rode their luck against Everton on the way to a 2-0 win at the Emirates.
Second half strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped Unai Emery’s side to a fourth consecutive Premier League victory although the game may have had a different complexion had the Gunners keeper not made a string of excellent stops.
Cech had to be at the top of his game to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott before the break and continued to be a commanding figure in his own box after his teammates had broken the deadlock.
“It is very satisfying because it was a very different game to previous ones,” Cech told Arsenal.com after Arsenal’s fifth consecutive victory.
“Although we won, we kept a clean sheet, we were suffering in some parts of the game because they are a really good side and they bought a lot of quality players and you can see it was a game where they created chances. We needed to stay in the game and in the second half we scored two wonderful goals.
“I think it [a clean sheet] has been coming because at Newcastle we did very well and conceded in the last minute.
“We were talking about the importance of not conceding goals because it helps and today it was a good clean sheet because in the first half, in particular, we were not on the front foot and we had to stay in the game.”
Cech’s ability to play out from the back has drawn criticism this season, but his shot-stopping has been pretty impressive.
Today, he was particularly pleased with his performance: “I made some saves – some very good saves, some very important saves and even in the second half at 2-0 they put a lot of balls in and for me it was important to come for crosses and clear the danger because they are big and their delivery is really good.
“Everybody had to do their bit and obviously, I am happy that I played my part.
He added: “We still have things we need to work on as a whole team because everyone defends and everyone attacks and we know we gave them too many chances in the first half.
“Sometimes you need to find your way in a game not to concede and everyone needs to understand there are difficult parts of the game where you have to stick together and stay in the game. The most satisfying thing is that we knew how to do it.”
Cech is likely to have a breather in midweek when Brentford visit in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but given today’s showing there’s nothing to suggest he won’t be back between the sticks next Saturday against Watford.
We have not been playing that well (although we have been improving), and it has taken six games to get a clean sheet.
BUT we are sixth in the league, one point off the top four. Imagine what we can do if we actually start playing well !
Bellerin played very well today but nobody noticed. He fulfilled his primary objective which is defending. He kept Richarlison quiet and restricted him to sending crossing where his real prowess is driving into the box with the ball
Please don’t take this as criticism, but richarlison did have a few shots from decent angles. Bellerin was with him or close enough to pressure him each time. I think that speaks volumes about richarlison’s talent and also bellerin’s, because the guy has been in good scoring touch recently. Finishing hasn’t been a problem of late for him, and bellerin kept him from picking out the top/bottom corner and putting it past cech.
Richarlison turned bellerin in circles today
caught out of position few times too.
Let’s show some cojones against Watford. We’ll take it game by game.
Yes, we owe them one. Hopefully, Bould will remind Emery to show some tapes from that game.
That was a ruthless take-no-prisoners punch to the recently fractured skull of Keane.. Nice to see him check he was ok. Great performance today. More please!
Though Arsenal’s2nd goal could have been ruled for os, I believe the gunners were
denied a 100% penalty. The ball had struck an Everton defender whose hand was
deliberately in the way. As for the linesman celebrating the goal it is not uncommon.
I have seen refs reacting in a triumphant manner when awarding a penalty against the gunners.
I thought the tug in Laca by Gana was a stone wall penalty, didn’t think the hand ball was, would have been harsh.
I for one don’t understand the criticism Cech gets. Many people are calling for him to be dropped in favour of Leno. But I haven’t really seen anything this season to suggest he’s on the decline. His shot stopping ability, one on one saves, positioning, cross catching is still second to none. Of course he needs to work on adapting to the new style of play, just like everyone else. But the man is still class and has in fact performed better than De Gea and many of the other top keepers in the league. Yesterday’s performance was one of… Read more »
Bang on. Sick of people calling for his head after adapting to a new system. Imagine if Leno was in goal for the defensive start we’d have? We’d have our very own Loris Karius. Cech has done very well to put up with the criticism, adapt his game and deal with Mustafi falling over in front of him every time the opposition run at him. Fair play to the old cunt.
Hope some fan-faith in Cech has been restored after the obviousness of a clean sheet.
Nice game petr, mustafi is a loose cannon