When Bernd Leno replaced Petr Cech at half time in the home league game against Watford early last season it signalled the end of one PL career and the start of another. Leno has since started the 59 PL games that have followed - the longest run since Jens Lehmann kept goal in 62 consecutive games between May 05 and November 06. If our latest German #1 starts the next 4 games he will have the longest run of any Arsenal 'keeper since David Seaman in the pre-PL, George Graham days.
Since the start of the PL era, only 4 times have we seen our goalie play every game - Seaman back in 95/96, Lehmann twice - the invincible season and 05/06, and Wojciech Szczesny in 11/12.
Only 9 times has a 'keeper played over 32 times in a PL season for us since Mr Wenger arrived 24 seasons ago.
One of the most amazing seasons for us in terms of 'keepers was the 01/02 season. David Seaman (by now 39) was first choice, but England international Richard Wright had been signed to start the succession process. Seaman was only fit for 17 appearances, however Wright failed to impress and only made 12 appearances himself. That meant a third 'keeper, Stuart Taylor, made 9 starts, with a sub appearance to ensure he won a title medal. I'm not sure, but my guess this is the only time a title winning side has used 3 'keepers to such an extent.
It was a similar story in the 10/11 season - however we failed to win the title that year despite being in a good position post Christmas. Szczesny (15) and Fabianski (14) shared most of the duties, but Almunia (8) and even a returning Lehmann (1) also got time between the sticks.
One story that shouldn't be forgotten when talking about Arsenal PL 'keepers is that of the Austrian Alex Manninger. Brought in as an understudy to Seaman, Manninger was a red-cheeked 20 year old probably not expecting to see much action during the 97/98 season. Arsenal went into an end of January match with Southampton in 5th, 11 points behind leaders - the great Manchester United. Arsenal had drawn the previous game 2-2 at Coventry and title hopes were seemingly non-existant. Seaman was ruled out of that Saints match, giving Manninger a chance. What followed was a run of 6 games for Manninger in which he conceded 0 goals, Arsenal win 5 and draw 1, and culminated in a trip to Old Trafford. A 1-0 win courtesy of a Marc Overmars goal, but also down to a great display by Manninger.
Manningers record was somewhat tarnished by a 4-0 defeat in his next game, the dead rubber after the title was sealed. He then only made 6 appearances in 99/00, where he added 4 more clean sheets making in 10 in 13. He went on to make 26 league appearances in the next 2 seasons, keeping another 8 clean sheets, before moving on. Those 6 games in 97/98 will go down in legend though.
David Seaman, Vince Bartram, Alan Miller, John Lukic, Lee Harper, Alex Manninger, Stuart Taylor, Richard Wright, Rami Shaaban, Jens Lehmann, Manuel Almunia, Mart Poom, Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, Wojciech Szczesny, David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez, Petr Cech, Bernd Leno. Arsenal and PL 'keepers. It hasn't always been pretty, but sometimes it has been outstanding.
'keepers
posted on 14/5/20
People regret the ways things panned out with Szczesny, but Fabianski was such a brilliant shot stopper when on form. It's a shame he never quite got it all together for us.
posted on 14/5/20
comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 1 minute ago
People regret the ways things panned out with Szczesny, but Fabianski was such a brilliant shot stopper when on form. It's a shame he never quite got it all together for us.
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Gerry Peyton and Arsene Wenger
posted on 14/5/20
Wisniowski (interviewer): With Gerry, it was a typical English locker room?
Fabianski & Szczesny: No, not really.
Szczesny: Let me give you an example of a thing when you laugh at first, but then you’re like I’m playing for Arsenal, is this for real? Before the match with Chelsea I hear: Watch out. When Hazard takes his penalties, he will shoot at the opposite side of where you will dive.
Fabianski & Wisniowski: (Laugh)
Szczesny: And that’s funny, but then you’re like did he really just said that?
Fabianski: Mentioning penalty analysis he used to said (Gerry): Listen, he shoots that side or that side, but best go with your feeling. So, he shoots here and there, but do whatever you want more or less.
Szczesny: One time we had a goalie debriefing out of nowhere.
Fabianski: And it was a video debriefing, we have never done video before.
Szczesny: Not knowing what it will be about we’re going right? And it’s a 4-5 minute video of goals that I let past me, but could have done better.
Fabianski: It’s only Szczesny goals though!
Fabianski & Szczesny: They were only Szczesny’s. But there was us and Vito (Mannone) and Emi (Martinez). Any video of us maybe?
Szczesny: So, were watching, but we don’t know what’s going on. It’s just showing errors, he is not explaining anything. So the video ends and Gerry says: See, you’re not perfect. And that was it. We’re all looking at each other like ‘what’?
posted on 14/5/20
Great article, DJ.
'Back of the net!' in fact.
Although, perhaps not always
posted on 14/5/20
Christ, Gerry Payton really was not up to scratch.
posted on 14/5/20
I honestly don't remember too many almunia mistakes in the season or so after he ousted Lehmann.
It was 2010 onwards he really started becoming a problem. Was there a change in goalkeeping coach?
posted on 14/5/20
"Interesting" facts:
Every 'keeper who has played in the PL for Arsenal has kept a clean sheet - including Lee Harper and Mart Poom who have a 100% record of 1 clean sheet in their only appearance,.
John Lukic kept a clean sheet in all 3 of his 2000/01 appearances.
David Seaman has most clean sheets in one season - 20 in 39 games in 93/94. He also kept 19 in 32 games in 98/99. Next best in 16 - Cech in 15/16 (34 games), Szczesny (37) in 13/14, Lehmann in 05/06 (38), and Seaman in 95/96 (38)
posted on 14/5/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 54 minutes ago
comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 1 minute ago
People regret the ways things panned out with Szczesny, but Fabianski was such a brilliant shot stopper when on form. It's a shame he never quite got it all together for us.
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Gerry Peyton and Arsene Wenger
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Good ROI man was our Gerry