Since David Seaman left the club, Arsenal have struggled to find a reliable goalkeeper. I’m sure that some will point to Jens Lehman at this stage, but it’s worth pointing out that the German stopper was the model of inconsistency throughout much of his career. The Gunners have also had to suffer through appearances from players like Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone. Arsene Wenger sure can pick ’em.
Then there’s Wojciech Szczesny. For many, he’s The Gunners’ sure-fire number one – an adept shot-stopper with genuine personality and character. For others he’s a liability, who’s prone to making errors and giving away goals. His shower based antics have also disappointed.
With David Ospina yet to truly assert himself as a viable alternative, it’s not unreasonable to speculate that Arsene Wenger may fancy signing a new keeper this summer. If he can find somebody who’s capable of generating genuine competition in this area of the pitch (for a fair price), then I’m sure that he could be tempted into making a move.
This leads me neatly onto The Metro‘s claim that Arsene Wenger has his eyes set on Bayer Leverkusen’s well-regarded young shot-stopper Bernd Leno. Despite being just 22-years-old, Leno’s reputation continues to grow. He’s an agile shot stopper, with cat like reflexes and plenty of confidence. Given his current form, he’d probably represent a step-up on The Gunners’ current options.
What’s more, it looks like he’d be willing to entertain a move to the Premier League. Check out these recent quotes from the player himself: ‘The foreign option is certainly appealing. A new language, a new culture – that I could definitely even imagine.’
If he’s already talking about future clubs then it sounds like he’s there for the taking – if Arsene Wenger is willing to open his wallet this summer. Arsenal are due an upgrade in this area of the pitch and they may have found the right man for the job.
What’s your take? Would you like to see Bernd Leno in a pair of Arsenal gloves?
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