Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: 3 pre-match talking points

Will Bernd Leno’s Kicking Improve?

As it’s the most recent memory of the team, the scenes at Villa Park are still remembered fondly, even if the players and coaching staff have long since moved on.

Bernd Leno being mobbed by his teammates – including the travelling Aaron Ramsdale who came to support the man whose shirt he took – was an extremely warming moment. Someone who has been first choice goalkeeper in every season of his senior career to date must have found it hard to contend with being usurped.

To have made some crucial interventions and calm claims from wide deliveries made the occasion more special. He deserved it.

His kicking, however, was not great. When Villa started pushing for an equaliser it prompted the German to go long, with his passes into Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe a far cry from the raking and fizzed efforts Ramsdale is known for.

Each goal-kick was a relinquishing of possession, and acted as the one black spot on an otherwise fine return to the team.

Leno’s kicking had never been immaculate, but everyone knows it’s better than that. Rustiness is very likely to have played a part and keeping the clean sheet, especially with that late save, should hopefully give him the confidence to improve in that department.

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