Arsenal’s Bernd Leno in the World Class Echelon?

Were Arsenal selling their best keeper this summer or second best? Excellent performances of both Bernd Leno and Emiliano Martinez since provide no clear answer. However, it should be clear that Arsenal made the correct call for the No. 1 jersey. Leno is among the very best in the league.

The match against Manchester United wasn’t one for a goalkeeping masterclass, both David de Gea and Leno being relatively untroubled. However, there was one a moment that was a brilliant microcosm of the shot-stopping we’ve seen from the German this season.

Early in the game, Fred lashed a shot destined for the top corner from the edge of the box after a corner was cleared. Diving to his left, Leno pulled an outstanding flying save. Shades of Martinez’s save at home to Liverpool last season.

Bernd Leno is having an incredible season at Arsenal, is he world class?

Only Ederson (12), Martinez (10) and Edouard Mendy (9) have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Leno (8).

He is pulling at least one every league game, a keen observer can notice. His eight clean sheets (at the time of writing) is the fourth most in the league. Ederson, by contrast, is guarded by a €200m backline. The Argentinian, meanwhile, is a part of an excellent Villa side having a settled defense. Whereas Mendy has similar wealth in front of him.

Only Manchester City have conceded less goals than Arsenal, who themselves have let in one less than Tottenham. Post-shot expected goals, minus goals allowed, put Arsenal at fourth, only behind Aston Villa, Fulham and Burnley (complete statistics), a higher rank indicating the volume of shots saved vs faced. The fact that two of them are relegation candidates makes Leno’s tally even more impressive.

Questions were raised about the decision to sell Martinez, dividing the fanbase. Arsenal were spoilt for choice. Keeping two first-choice keepers wasn’t economically viable. Leno was ostracized at every goal concession in the early season as well as every time Martinez had a shut-out. Halfway through the season, Leno has dispelled the doubts over why he should be the Arsenal No. 1.

There are multiple silver linings on the dark cloud that has been the Arsenal season so far. Excellence of the German shot stopper is one of them. He’s transcended to a world-class level this season.