Friday 6 November 2015 23:31, UK
Arsene Wenger has called Petr Cech the perfect goalkeeper as the Arsenal stopper closes in on the Premier League clean sheet record.
The 33-year-old will equal David James' total of 169 clean sheets if he can keep out north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
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 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 [Cech] has given first of all his experience," Wenger said. "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."
Cech has backed Arsenal to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League despite a 5-1 thrashing at Bayern Munich on Wednesday which leaves them bottom of Group F and with progession to the last-16 out of their hands.
He was rested for the opening two group matches, both of which ended in defeat, with Wenger criticised for dropping his only summer signing in such important matches.
Wenger was the only manager across Europe's top five leagues not to sign an outfield player in the summer transfer window but remains delighted with improving his goalkeeping department.
"Cech had an agreement with his chairman that he could go for a certain price anywhere," Wenger added.
"We are not anywhere, but we are somewhere, and we managed to get him here and we are happy with it.
"I met Petr Cech and he told me he can be available for that money and I said for that money, I do it, so you do your job [and tell Chelsea]. So I had not to fight with Chelsea, honestly."
