Edwin van der Sar continues to hold the record for number of consecutive Premier League clean sheets.placeholder image
Edwin van der Sar continues to hold the record for number of consecutive Premier League clean sheets. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
Arsenal’s defensive resolve was broken by Sunderland, shining light on an impressive Man United record back in 2009
When Dan Ballard rifled into the roof of the Arsenal net at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, the Gunners’ seemingly-impenetrable defence had been breached and a blossoming clean sheet record was stopped right in its tracks.
David Raya and his defence led by Gabriel and William Saliba had kept eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions for the Premier League leaders, and an eye-catching 13 shut-outs in 17 matches across all domestic and European matches so far this campaign. But the truth is that the Gunners were still a long distance away from breaking a 16-year Premier League clean sheet record.
Arsenal, in fact, only kept four clean sheets in a row in the league, with their overall record significantly boosted by Champions League and EFL Cup ties in between. Their record of eight in all competitions was still outstanding, nevertheless, and is unlikely to be bettered by an English side this season, but it was still some distance away from the top-flight record.
Man United’s 2008/09 clean sheet record remains intact
Manchester United’s clean sheet record set in the 2008/09 season remains intact after the Gunners’ draw at Sunderland, and the truth is that it is unlikely to be matched anytime soon.
The Red Devils set the record with Edwin van der Sar in goal between November 15th, 2008 and February 18th, 2009, keeping an outstanding 14 clean sheets in a row in the Premier League alone. To put it into perspective, 14 matches is more than a third of the league season - and the Red Devils went all that way without conceding a single goal. Arsenal only managed four league matches without conceding, which is a far cry from matching United’s outrageous record. In fact, the Gunners’ run of clean sheets does not even crack the top 10 in Premier League history.
Arsenal’s defence so far this season have been truly outstanding, conceding just five goals in 11 matches. They may well be on course to match United’s overall record from the 2008/09 season, where they conceded 24 goals in 38 matches.
But to go 14 consecutive games in arguably the most competitive league in the world without conceding is something else. The level of flawless consistency and unerring reliability the run took from Van der Sar and a defence including the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is something which is near-impossible to recreate at any level of football, never mind in the Premier League. The Red Devils truly boasted a special generation of defensive talent, and their record may yet stand for years to come.
‘I am proud of them’ - Sir Alex Ferguson on United record
Speaking back in 2009 in an interview quoted by BBC Sport, legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his pride at the achievement of his players when they reached 11 consecutive clean sheets to break the record, held by Jose Mourinho’s imperious 2004/05 Chelsea side at the time.
"I am proud of them. They have been fantastic in this run,” said Sir Alex. "Edwin van der Sar has had a fantastic career but he was really pleased to get this record. You look at him and what happened has really thrilled him."
Van der Sar, that same day, broke Petr Cech’s record of 1,025 minutes without conceding a Premier League goal (Van der Sar eventually reached 1,104 minutes, breaking Steve Death’s 30-year all-time record for the English top flight).
The Dutchman said of his achievement: "The most important thing is the win, but of course it is great for the team to get the record. I just needed to keep the concentration levels high and fire up the defenders and midfielders. We are delighted with the record because we haven't even had a settled defence, with players injured and others coming in and out."
United’s record will remain, for the near future at least. Whether Arsenal, or any other Premier League side, can ever come close to the record again remains to be seen. But there has been significant fanfare surrounding the Gunners’ defensive run, and they were truthfully never even close to matching the Red Devils’ clean sheet record. That puts into perspective just how special that achievement in 2009 was.
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