Arsenal: 3 players to succeed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as captain
2. Bernd Leno
Bernd Leno has put together two excellent seasons. He arrived in 2018 with questions regarding his reliability and consistency. Always talented, the German had not ironed out the mistakes of his younger years, with some doubting whether he could live up to the required standard at the Emirates. He has answered those doubts emphatically.
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In his second season, Leno has taken on a greater role within the squad. After bedding himself into a new team and league, he has grown more comfortable with those around him. And he has subsequently grown into a leading role within the team, especially on the pitch.
Leno can routinely be seen barking instructions out at those in front of him, calling for concentration, focus, attentiveness and improved performance. He congratulates defenders when they produce positive pieces of play and coaxes out a positive response from his teammates, which is the ultimate sign of a natural leader.
And he also backs up his words with his play. Leno has been excellent this season, producing several match-winning performances. He has also added consistency and reliability to his game, while minimising the silly mistakes. The German is a leader, one of the best players in the squad, and a potential club captain.