Hello Arsenal family; hope we are all doing fine today? Hope we are coping just fine being supporters of the sleeping giant, Arsenal?
I was a bit restless today and out of boredom, I decided to take a look at the performances of our main goalkeeper. I decided to focus my attention on Bernd Leno, who unfortunately, is our number one goalkeeper at the moment.
On 19 June 2018, Arsenal announced that Leno had signed a five-year contract, pending ‘the completion of regulatory processes’. Leno made his debut for Arsenal in the 4–2 victory over Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League and his Premier League debut in the 2–0 home victory over Watford, replacing regular goalkeeper Petr Čech, who picked up an injury in the first-half. His performance was praised by head-coach Unai Emery, who said after the game on Arsenal.com: “He is working very well with the goalkeeping coaches. I spoke with him and said the most important thing is when the team needs him to help us, to be prepared. He did that on Wednesday and today also – and against Vorskla. We have three very good goalkeepers. Petr Čech, his performances for us have been very important and his experience. Leno can learn by staying near with Petr Čech every day. I am very happy with him. He has waited for his moment and it’s arriving.”
Bernd Leno seems to have found a home at Arsenal but have his performances been as good as we expected him to? Has he been there to save Arsenal from conceding goals, even when the defenders have been beaten? When called upon to save penalty kicks for Arsenal, how many as he saved so far? All the goals we have conceded so far, which one has he really tried his best to prevent? Let’s take a look at his statistics…
Ever since arriving at Arsenal, Bernd Leno has kept goal 45 times in the premier league and kept 8 clean sheets. Not impressive stats, if you ask me; but then who knows what would have happened, if Arsenal’s defence was really up to premiership standard?
The goalkeeping department is not our most problematic department but keeping clean sheets in a football game, has a lot to do with the goalkeeper being up to the task, in every game.
Sylvester Kwentua (Lagos Gooner)