LONDON • After picking the ball out of his net several times in a 4-0 drubbing at Southampton two days earlier, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech celebrated a record on Monday by keeping his 170th Premier League clean sheet.

The Czech Republic stopper surpassed the 169 blanks set by former England international David James as Arsenal beat Bournemouth 2-0, but did so in 220 fewer appearances. James, who hung up his gloves in 2010, required 572 appearances while Cech eclipsed the mark in just 352 appearances for both Chelsea and Arsenal.

The 33-year-old told Sky Sports: "It's a great personal achievement and I felt really proud at the end of the game because if you look at the names in the clean sheet numbers and you see all those fantastic goalkeepers who had been playing and are still playing in this league then obviously it is a great achievement to top the list."

James was among the first to hail Cech's efforts.

"Congratulations @PetrCech Premier League clean sheet record holder. Plenty more to come! What a guy!" the 45-year-old tweeted.

REUTERS