Petr Cech has admitted that he never thought he could break the record for clean sheets in the Premier League.

The Czech keeper drew level with David James's feat of 169 top-flight shutouts as Arsenal defeated Aston Villa on Sunday, leaving him on the brink of making history.

"I'm not really into the records and the individual trophies," Cech told Arsenal Player. "But some achievements you cannot ignore and to be in a position where I can break the all-time clean sheet record is something that I never thought I would be able to do.

"When I came over, people started talking about the clean sheets and the records, and I thought 169 was impossible. I would have to be here a long time, play every game and you don't get a clean sheet in every game. The fact that I managed to come to that point is a great achievement."

Cech will attempt to reach the 170 milestone when the Gunners welcome fellow title-chasers Manchester City to the Emirates on Monday.