Following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat of Stoke City on Sunday afternoon, goalkeeper Petr Čech is within touching distance of the Premier League clean sheet record.

The goalkeeper has now kept 169 Premier League clean sheets and is one behind former (deep breath) Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.

James’ 170 Premier League clean sheets were amassed in 572 appearances, while Čech has played just 338 times in England’s top division since arriving in London 11 years ago. The Czech international managed 166 of his clean sheets while in goal for Chelsea and has now kept three clean sheets in a row for Arsenal after conceding in his first two Premier League appearances for his new club.

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge next week, where Čech will have the chance to equal the Premier League record for clean sheets in front of the fans who celebrated him for a decade.

Some reports on Saturday said Čech had already equalled the record but the official Premier League website has James at 170 clean sheets, rather than the 169 that Čech reached with Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Stoke City.

Čech didn’t have to work particularly hard on Saturday afternoon and would expect to busier next weekend. Hopefully, no matter what happens over the course of 90 minutes, the result is the same and Chelsea fans have the chance to graciously thank him for his service as Arsenal fans celebrate three points and another clean sheet.