Arsenal vs Fulham: Bernd Leno has his work cut out for him

Bernd Leno will be in the Premier League saddle for the first time this year, and it’s not going to be an easy one for him – all the better, right?

Arsenal‘s defense is nothing if not susceptible. They only just recently notched their first clean sheet against Everton, and that was as shaky a clean sheet as there is. If it weren’t for the heroics of Petr Cech, more than the clean sheet would have been forfeited. They’d have lost.

But the clean sheets continued, with another against Watford, shaky though it be, and this time held in place thanks to Bernd Leno, who came in as a substitute for an injured Petr Cech.

Leno is back in the saddle for awhile now, and against Fulham, he will have his first start of his Premier League career. And rest assured, it won’t be an easy one. If he wants his first start to be a clean sheet, he is going to need his own brand of heroics, unless this defense can suddenly snap into place (don’t hold your breath).

Fulham have eight goals thus far into the year, but they have a very clear path to scoring, and they aren’t strangers to taking plenty of shots. Despite being in early contention for the relegation battle, Fulham’s attack has not been the problem, as they are top-half in nearly every offensive category.

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Most notably, they know how to score from open play, as seven of their eight goals have come from such, putting them sixth in the league in goals created from open play.

This also happens to be the one area that Arsenal’s defense struggles with the most. While Fulham are sixth best in creating goals from open play, the Gunners are sixth worse in giving up open play goals, having surrendered eight on the year thus far.

Fulham are worse, however. In fact, they are the worst.

All signs point to this being a 5-2 gun show, or something of the like. Fulham will have their opportunities from open play, when this defense is at its weakest, and Leno will be the one left picking up the pieces in an effort to maintain a clean sheet in front of his home crowd for the first time.

Obviously we’re all rooting for it, as he’s the future at keeper (as well as the present), but temper expectations a bit. Fulham aren’t pushovers, especially as far as their attack is concerned.