Petr Cech was one of Arsenal’s stand-out players against Tottenham and if it hadn’t been for his presence in goal, the scoreline could have been far more humiliating than 2-0.
Cech’s not had a brilliant season. Although he’s shown flashes of his old self, the 34-year-old’s quality has plummeted and he’s far from the goalkeeper he once during his prime when he was at Chelsea.
He’s kept just nine clean sheets in the Premier League this season, conceding an average of 1.14 goals a game, and is currently rated the seventh best goalkeeper in the league, according to Squawka.
He still has his moments though and in the second half of the North London Derby, Cech was immense.
Petr Cech had an 81% save success rate against Tottenham (nine saves). pic.twitter.com/vTHjwHRpzG
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) April 30, 2017
The former Czech international managed NINE (!) saves to prevent Arsenal from facing complete humiliation during the last ever North London Derby at White Hart Lane. He hadn’t made more than six in any other game this season.
Only on three other occasions has an @Arsenal GK had to make as many saves (one was last season) as Cech today (since 2003) pic.twitter.com/mDSnkoeyuu
— Oliver Butler (@obutler) April 30, 2017
What’s more is that these saves weren’t all spread out neatly across the 90 minutes.
Seven of these saves were after half time.
He made three saves in seven minutes at the beginning of the second half just before Spurs’ two goals in four minutes. Then, later, after he’d made another save in the 67th minute, he managed three huge saves in three minutes.
Tottenham had a total of 20 shots during the game with 11 on target.
It was amazing to watch. You know, apart from the fact that Arsenal were being completely dominated by Spurs.
Despite the two goals he shipped, it could have been so much worse if Cech hadn’t stepped up.