Categories: Sports

‘Leno Was Really Good’: Arteta Praises German For Penalty Heroics Against Liverpool

Bernd Leno saved two penalties to hand Arsenal the win over Liverpool in a League Cup game on October 1, 2020. Photo: Twitter@Arsenal.

 

 

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta was full of praise for German goalkeeper, Bernd Leno who stopped two spot-kicks to hand the Gunners a 4-5 shoot-out win over Liverpool in the League Cup on Thursday. 

English youngster, Joe Willock netted the winning penalty for the North London side after Leno saved from Divock Origi and Harry Wilson, sending Arsenal to the quarter-final of the competition.

 

“Bernd Leno was really good. When we needed him we had him. You need a top individual performance to win at Anfield,” said Arteta whose side won the Community Shield in August after seeing off the Reds via penalty shoot-out.

“I really have belief in Bernd. I know him really well. We didn’t want Emiliano Martinez to go but it was probably the right thing.

“To come here and play with the determination and courage is a big step forward for the team. They are on the right path.”

Leno’s sterling show at Anfield – a match which ended barren after normal and extra time – underlined why the Gunners’ boss could let go of back-up stopper, Emiliano Martinez, and restored the German to the number one spot after a lengthy spell on the treatment table.

 

File photo: Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Will Oliver / POOL / AFP).

 

Before his penalty heroics, Leno had made series of spectacular saves in the game to keep the FA Cup champions on course to winning the trophy that eluded former coach Arsene Wenger.

Leno’s performances, unsurprisingly, earned him the Man of the Match gong and the German will hope to continue his key role in a new Arsenal under Arteta.

 

 

Emmanuel Egobiambu

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Military Declares Eight Wanted Over Murder of Soldiers

The list was released hours after the slain soldiers were buried in a ceremony attended…

25 mins ago

Four Killed In US Stabbing Spree

Those killed included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman and two men aged 49 and…

32 mins ago

Gabon’s Post-Coup Reform Efforts Under Fire

Mounting calls for the dialogue to be postponed or reorganised have been heard from a…

47 mins ago

Faye Officially Declared Winner Of Senegal’s Presidential Election

The announcement of the official provisional results seems to clear the way for a handover…

10 hours ago

Nigerians Deserve To Know How Abducted Kaduna Pupils Were Released – Bukarti

The security expert said the government needs to explain to Nigerians circumstances around the release…

11 hours ago

Minimum Wage: Pay FAAC Allocations Of Defaulting States To Workers, TUC Tells FG

While the TUC demanded N447,000 as the new monthly minimum wage per worker, the NLC…

12 hours ago