Arsenal: Low-end Bernd Leno must meet high-end Bernd Leno

Bernd Leno was at the peak of his powers in March, named Arsenal’s player of the month. Now it’s time for the low-end performances of the German must reach the high end. Consistency, not brief moments of excellence, is what is required.

March was an excellent month for Arsenal. An away draw against Tottenham Hotspur that would have been different if not for a linesman’s flag and a missed penalty, wins against Rennes and Manchester United, Unai Emery’s team ostensibly found a system and style that suited them and began to master it.

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In the midst of all of this burgeoning success was a starring run from goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The German was signed last summer to be the Gunners’ starter. After briefly sitting behind Petr Cech to open the year, he has established himself as the number one at the Emirates.

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Initially, his form was a little ropey. Mistakes against Southampton and Liverpool proved the doubts that many had when he arrived right. But as he settled into the English game, adapted to the higher pace and physicality of the Premier League, and developed a greater understanding with his teammates, his form improved, with the mistakes growing increasingly rare. By March, Leno was at his absolute best.

His showings against Spurs and Man. Utd were especially noticeable. He made a terrific double save in the North London Derby, one of the best moments of the season from any goalkeeper in the league, and denied Romelu Lukaku on several occasions a week later with some phenomenal shot-stopping work. March was undoubtedly Leno at his best, and he was duly named Arsenal’s Player of the Month.

The challenge for Leno now is to elevate his game on a consistent basis to the standard that he has reached recently. Early on in his time at Manchester United, David de Gea also had the type of stretch that Leno has recently put together. But many doubted his long-term success because those matches were interspersed with mistake-riddled ones. He was hugely inconsistent.

As he got older, however, bulked up physically and matured mentally, the consistency came, the mistakes grew less frequent, and he quickly established himself as the best goalkeeper in the world. The low-end de Gea performances met the high-end de Gea performances. That is the process that Leno must now go through.

At this stage, Leno is a good goalkeeper with great moments. March has been one of those great moments. For him to become a great goalkeeper, those great moments must become the norm, not the anomalies.

Consistency is now what is required from Leno. He has proven he has the skills to perform at an extremely high level. Does he now the mentality and character to replicate that performance? Time, as it always does, will tell.