Forget Lewandowski, Bernd Leno named former Arsenal star as ‘one of the most’ clinical players he’s played against

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Bernd Leno enjoyed a fine four-year stint at Arsenal before departing for Fulham in the summer of 2022.

The German arrived at the Emirates from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018, joining a talented Arsenal squad that Unai Emery had inherited from Arsene Wenger.

He’d spent seven seasons as Leverkusen’s first-choice goalkeeper, establishing himself as one of the most imposing figures in between the sticks in the Bundesliga.

Facing numerous potent forwards throughout his time in Germany and in the Premier League, the Fulham man claimed an ex-Arsenal star was one of the best he’d faced back in 2020.

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Bernd Leno claimed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was ‘one of the’ most clinical strikers he’s faced

Arsenal signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £56 million from Borussia Dortmund back in January 2018, six months prior to Leno’s arrival in N5.

The Gabonese striker arrived in England having scored 141 goals for Dortmund, and was expected to lead the Gunners to major honours.

While he was certainly prolific for Arsenal, netting 92 goals in three-and-a-half seasons, Aubameyang actually spurned big chances on a regular basis.

Despite this, Leno revealed his belief in an interview with Soccer AM in 2020 that Aubameyang was one of the most clinical players he’d played against, and that the striker surprised him when he joined Arsenal.

“Yes, he’s one of them [the most clinical players he’s seen],” he said.

“He’s quick, he has the killer instinct. He’s making runs for his teammates. I expected him to be a very, very good player, but when I came here I realised that he’s better.”

“He’s a beast, he’s very good. I didn’t like playing against him in Germany, because he’s very hard to play against.”

Given Leno played against the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben in his time in the Bundesliga, these comments speak volumes about how highly he thought of Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal statistics

Whilst being inefficient in front of goal, Aubameyang’s movement was good enough that it didn’t matter.

Netting 60 goals over two seasons between 2018 and 2020, the number 14’s goal carried a mediocre Arsenal side to somewhat respectable seasons.

Without him, Arsenal would likely have been languishing close to the relegation zone in the 2019/20 campaign.

As well as his goal-scoring exploits, Aubameyang formed a formidable partnership with Alexandre Lacazette, which was a joyous on-and off-pitch relationship for Arsenal fans to watch.

While he’ll be remembered for tarnishing his legacy by later joining Chelsea, Aubameyang gave the Gunners plenty to cheer about whilst he was in N5.