Arsene Wenger says Petr Cech’s pride has been hurt by Arsenal’s seven-game run without a clean sheet.
The veteran Czech has conceded at least one goal in each of his last seven Premier League matches – a run that stretches back to the scoreless draw with Middlesbrough in mid-October – and has never gone eight matches without a clean sheet.
With only four clean sheets in total after 16 games, Cech and his defence are going to have to up their game in the second half of the season if he’s to secure the fifth Golden Glove award of his career.
“Yes, of course [that hurts his pride] and I think that at the moment that’s where we can improve and that’s what we want to focus on,” Wenger told Arsenal.com ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City. “We have to keep more clean sheets than we do at the moment.
“But Petr has done extremely well. In a team like ours you have one or two saves to make in every game, and that means he has needed talent, of course, but as well focus and concentration to do that, to stay in the game when it looks like you will not be involved a lot. He has, in every single game, made one or two decisive saves.”
The boss also took a moment to touch on the importance of Cech’s experience and how he’s able to ensure his teammates don’t lose perspective after a poor result.
“His experience helps because he has seen that [disappointment] before,” added Wenger.
“Experienced players [like Petr] can adjust the level of disappointment and provoke as well the response that you want, without the players forgetting how good they are.”
Cech’s seven-game run without a clean sheet
vs Sunderland (a)- Defoe penalty
vs Sp*rs (h) – Kane penalty
vs Man Utd (a) – Mata
vs Bournemouth (h) – Wilson penalty
vs West Ham (a) – Carroll (headed rebound after Payet free-kick off the bar)
vs Stoke (h) – Adam penalty
vs Everton (a) – Coleman header / Williams header
…it’s fair to say that the pens against Sp*rs, Bournemouth and Stoke were contentious, but when you give away that many it does start to look careless.
Robert Snodgrass also scored a penalty for Hull at the KC Stadium.
Arsenal have conceded five penalties now this season, more than in the previous two campaigns put together
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 10, 2016
The weirdest thing is that Cech hasn’t dived the right way for a single one of them.
Last time cech saved a penalty his club won the champions league. It wouldn’t be unfair to say he’s saving his penalty saves for another final. Sorry for being overly optimistic!
stay right in the middle on the next penalty. Everyone seems to be going down the middle now assuming goalies will dive.
Clean sheets are a team stat so Cech shouldn’t beat himself up too much. I’m sure he’s more happy with wins!
Hopefully Crystal Palace can do us a favour today.
We definitely have been a bit leaky at the back this season! Hopefully we can just shut up shop in the 2nd half of the season.
Having said that, I can recall a few moments where Cech has definitely saved us points!
Great use of the word goalies!
Wenger is rignt to point out how this run of games with goals conceded does not accurately reflect how important Čech is to the side. He deserves more accolades for his quality, but I think he’ll look back in these games with a smile when he’s holding the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
Cech is world class, but time to give ospina a chance. He’s in his prime now. He can perform better.
Ospina may be in his prime but he’s not world class. Cech is. No decision to make here.
We have Cech for at least another 5 years. Still one of the best keepers around so we’re lucky to have him.
Cech is a world class keeper but he never good at penalty saves
Cech is the best in PL. Guys remember his age and campare the reflexes towards this year where we saved points. Keep going fella