Another clean sheet: in memoriam of Pavel Srnicek

“I’m really glad to have gained three points. It was one of those games where that certainly didn’t come easy. Newcastle played really well and we were looking for a way to squeeze past them. I’m glad we managed that in the end, and the clean sheet is a cherry on top as always. I made two important saves - one in each half. I’m happy to have helped towards the win,” said Petr after the game.

Arsenal made a strong entrance, though they failed to use it to score early on. “The first 15 minutes were great but we lost our rhythm after. Newcastle, on the other hand, began to play really well and made things more difficult for us. We had to fight tooth and nail for the win. It was crucial that we not panic - we got there eventually,” described Petr.

The Gunners also increased their lead in the table as Leicester had lost points in a draw with Bournemouth. “We continue to be in the first spot but that’s not a reason to lose vigilance. It’ll be essential to win our games. Yesterday’s game proved that no wins are a given in the Premier League,” Petr admitted.

Before the game, both teams paid tribute to goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek who tragically passed away at 47 years of age on 29 December after having suffered a heart attack. “We were all wearing black bands and Newcastle players lined up in jerseys with his photo on them. That was a nice gesture; both fan groups gave a standing applause. You could tell Pavel had really gained a lot of respect in England during his years over here. Such a tragedy. We knew each other from the national team and occasionally met outside of football matters. What happened to him is incredibly sad,” added Petr.