Arsenal: Bernd Leno’s patience not needed much longer

Bernd Leno is already eeking towards being forgotten at Arsenal and he hasn’t even played yet, but his patience won’t be needed much longer.

I wasn’t alone in celebrating the signing of Bernd Leno. Petr Cech is great and all, but after seeing what we saw him do for (or against…) Arsenal last year, it was imperative that we get another viable solution that wasn’t named David Ospina.

It is odd that he hasn’t been given a chance yet. Unai Emery has favored the veteran hands of Cech, who has left us just as nervous through four games as he used to regularly do last season. But it’s still assumed that Cech will be the chosen one, with Leno biding his time.

Some have cast doubts over Leno based on wild speculation that he ‘isn’t good enough,’ but more important voices are urging him to just be patient. And even more valuable is the fact that Leno himself has admitted that everything is fine and that he has no problem doing just that – being patient.

Thankfully, that patience will be paying off soon. As in within the next two weeks. Assuming that Emery does in fact stick with Petr Cech, despite the mistakes, against Newcastle United, then all that means is that Leno has to wait until Thursday in the Europa League, at which point he will get his Arsenal debut.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

That’s when things will start getting interesting, because Leno will largely hold his fate in his own two hands. If he can come out as a shining example of everything that we want in a keeper, even against duller opposition, then you can bet that Unai Emery, who has a capacity for change, will notice. And you can bet that the fans will notice too.

It remains to be seen what will happen from there, whether the two will swap roles or what have you, but know that no matter the case, Leno will be finding plenty of playing time, probably just as much as Cech, even if he makes all of zero Premier League appearances. And if it’s under his charge that the Gunners go on to win some trophies, maybe an FA Cup or something, then the case is built even stronger in his favor, and the long-term role is essentially his for the taking.

This was likely the plan all along. Leno would have to earn his place, and now he is being given his chance to do so in these side competitions. Which is exciting. He’s the last signing we haven’t seen and he may well have been the most exciting. Especially now that Cech continues to struggle with the ball at his feet.