The custodian was delighted with his contributions in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich, and hopes the result can kick-start their European season

Petr Cech believes Arsenal could have lost their Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich had it not been for two crucial saves he made when the tie was still goalless.

The experienced goalkeeper denied Thiago Alcantara early on at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, before preventing Robert Lewandowski from opening the scoring after the break.

Late goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil then helped Arsenal to a vital victory, keeping alive the Gunners’ ambitions of progressing from the Champions League group stages.

The win prompted Cech, an off-season recruit from Chelsea in the summer, to state how delighted he was with his own contribution to the team’s success.

“I think there were two key moments,” Cech told Arsenal’s official website.

“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, but instead in a few minutes we were 1-0 up and [that] basically decided the game.

“As much as it went up and down and there were chances and shots and it was very entertaining, it looked like one goal might decide it.