Arsenal: Any questions about Bernd Leno now? Anyone?

Arsenal signed Bernd Leno to be the long-term keeper solution, but no one wants to call it as it is. Are there any further questions after Norwich? Anyone?

You know how it is, some Arsenal fans out there will take any excuse to complain. And the English media knows this, and they feed into it. Exhibit A, which still irks me, was an “article” about a month ago that detailed the “shocking clean sheet record of Bernd Leno.” They took extreme measures to make it all look like the Gunners had signed an inadequate keeper.

It’s a headline that I’ll never unsee that constantly reminds me of how downright ignorant some of the click-baiters out there are.

Yet, somehow, there have still been questions asked of the German, by “fans” and “experts” alike. Questions pondering if he really is the right keeper, or if we invested in the wrong guy, or outlining who we should be looking for in the coming windows to truly take over the job.

The parallel I always have to draw on is Wojciech Szczesny, who spent years stranded on the same island Leno is currently stranded on, before moving off to become one of the best keepers in all of Europe at Juventus.

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It’s hilarious when reflected by his FIFA ratings. He maxed out around a 79-81 potential when he was at Arsenal, and now that he’s at Juventus, he’s upwards of 90. Why is that? It’s not because the player changed. Sure, he grew and improved, as all players do, but that is a hefty leap. And it’s a hefty leap to go from “not good enough” to “among best in the world.”

Bernd Leno is the same thing. The exact same thing. We saw it against Norwich. The two goals he gave up were directly the fault of being stranded by his defense. He had no hope of making a save.

But when you give him a fighting chance, he makes incredible saves. He commands the box. He inspires confidence. This same guy who so many people questioned, and will undoubtedly continue to question.

How can you even ask questions anymore? Really? In Leno we have a tremendous fighter, someone who can change the fate of the game. And my hope is that Norwich helped ease a lot of those questions.

Though, let’s be honest, give him one mediocre performance and people are going to pitch a fit all over again.