Arsenal: Welcome to Bernd Leno island, population of one

Arsenal fans are questioning their new keeper, Bernd Leno, but in the end, it’s the defense that he should be questioning, and nothing else.

Arsenal fans were overly critical of Bernd Leno against Southampton, when he made a split-second decision to go after a ball that ended up coming off of Charlie Austin’s head and into the back of the net to give the Saints the win, ending the Gunners unbeaten run at 22.

It wasn’t Bernd Leno’s fault, but as is so often the case with fans, they see the immediate and easy target as the only possible scapegoat. Hence why Giroud was always to blame when the club wasn’t scoring enough and why Xhaka is always to blame for like… everything.

Against Brighton, Leno again came off his line and made a decision to face the threat on the fly and put pressure on the attacker, rather than let him get settled and sort himself out. In the end, he was bypassed and Brighton leveled the match.

As was the case against Southampton, fans were again down the throat of Leno for his handling of the situation, but as was similarly the case against Southampton, I want to ask what you’d rather have had Leno do?

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Sit back and wait for Locadia? In no way does that beat trying to cut down the angle.

What is the theme in both situations? The theme isn’t that Leno made a mistake, the theme is that he was left alone, on an island, against a foe that he had to make a decision against. And both times he made the right decision. But as is the case when you are alone on an island as a keeper, there just wasn’t much else he could do.

I’ve brought this to attention before, but this is the exact same thing that happened with Szczesny when he was still here. He would get pinned for the blame when his defense left him stranded on his own island. Nowadays, Szczesny, with a functional backline, boasts then best defense in all the top five.

The same will happen with Leno if his defense stops leaving stranded, all on his own, where only a fit of individual heroics can bail him out.

Leno is a fantastic keeper, and we are blessed to have him between the sticks. Make no mistake about that. And, while you’re making no mistakes, go ahead and ask yourself what else you’d rather him have done in either situation.