Petr Cech Shows He Can Be Arsenal's Difference-Maker in Win over Bayern Munich

When Arsenal signed Petr Cech, it was for nights like this.

The goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil that allowed the Gunners to beat Bayern Munich will live long in the memory, but the truth is that without Cech’s superb performance in goal they would never have been able to secure such a memorable result.

Against Bayern, Cech demonstrated that he can be a genuine match-winner for Arsene Wenger’s men.

Incredibly, this was Cech’s Champions League debut for the club. In the previous two group games, Wenger had opted to play deputy goalkeeper David Ospina instead.

An injury ruled the Colombian out of contention for this one, but surely Wenger would have called upon Cech regardless. An opponent of Bayern’s quality calls for a keeper with Cech’s credentials.

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He brings so much to the team. At 33, he was the oldest Arsenal player on the field by some distance. Unusually, Cech’s age is actually an asset: He brings bags of top-flight experience and an aura of calm and confidence that seems to emanate to the Arsenal back four.

Not since Jens Lehmann have Arsenal had a goalkeeper with such natural authority—and even he was prone to moments of panic. Cech seems entirely unflappable. He has now kept clean sheets in each of his last three appearances, and he seems to have dramatically strengthened the spine of Wenger’s side.

When Cech arrived from Chelsea in the summer, he was an effective replacement for Roma-bound Wojciech Szczesny. When Arsenal and Bayern met in February 2014, Szczesny was sent off as Arsenal went down in a 2-0 defeat. It feels significant that when the two sides met again at the Emirates Stadium, Cech was, arguably, the man of the match. Arsenal have undoubtedly upgraded.

Cech’s contribution against Bayern was exemplified by a couple of key moments. First, he produced a firm parry to deny Thiago Alcantara in the game’s opening period. Then, in the 74th minute, he managed to block the in-form Robert Lewandowski’s attempt at goal. That stop proved particularly crucial: Within three minutes, Arsenal had taken the lead at the other end. On such things do games—and Champions League campaigns—hinge.

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Speaking to Arsenal.com after the game, Cech talked about the importance of those stops:

"

I think there were two key moments. Obviously, if Thiago had scored early in the game, then they would have had control of the game, so it was a very important save at the start, and then I’m obviously glad I made the save against Lewandowski as, in that moment, we could have been 1-0 down instead of, in a few minutes, we were 1-0 up and basically decided the game because [...] as much as it went up and down and there was chances and shots and it was very entertaining, it looked like one goal might decide it. We are glad that we were the team that scored the goal.

"

Arsenal are also glad they’ve got Cech. He formed the foundation for this outstanding performance.

This was a clash between two great goalkeepers—Manuel Neuer showcased his ability with that stunning one-handed save from Theo Walcott. However, it was, ultimately, his error that led to the Gunners taking the lead.

Cech, on the other hand, produced a flawless display. It seems that Arsenal have finally found a goalkeeper worthy of their No. 1 spot.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.