Chelsea icon Petr Cech has weighed in on the speculation surrounding Arsenal’s chances of breaking an unparalleled Premier League record he set during his illustrious time with the Blues.
Arsenal have commenced their Premier League campaign with aplomb, winning seven of their first nine fixtures and establishing a four-point cushion at the summit of the table.
In these opening matches, the Gunners have exhibited a formidable rearguard, conceding a mere three goals. This impressive start puts them on course to challenge Chelsea’s storied record of only 15 goals conceded over the 2004/05 season.
In that remarkable Chelsea campaign, the side had conceded only two goals at this juncture and, on merely two occasions, did they allow more than a single goal in a league encounter. Cech, who stood between the sticks for the majority of those fixtures, recognises Arsenal’s potential to threaten this record but acknowledges the daunting task ahead.
Speaking on John Terry’s TikTok channel, Cech remarked: “Well, you know, they are doing really well, I have to say. It’s early in the season, but you have to start somewhere. If they carry on like that, then they have a chance, but at the same time, it’s a hard job. 38 games, you need to have a little bit of luck sometimes.”
He added, “I think it will be hard for them to break our record, but I will be following because they started well. And it’s nice to see, on the other hand, that you have a team that is actually proud of having a defensive record as well.”
Reflecting on the historic Chelsea record, Cech noted: “You have to be consistent, and you have to have a whole team chipping in. Only 15 goals in one season is quite insane.”
Arsenal, having already faced formidable opposition in Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool, will soon turn their attention to further challenging fixtures against Tottenham and Chelsea, both potent attacking sides.
For Arsenal, maintaining their defensive solidity could be key, with Cech emphasising the ethos: “If you don’t concede, you only need one goal to win games.”
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Gunners’ backline as they continue their quest for defensive excellence.