Bernd Leno Handed Ex-Spanish Star’s Shirt Number As He Joins Pre-Season

Bernd Leno picks No.19 as he begins pre-season…

Arsenal new boy Bernd Leno has chosen the No.19 shirt ahead of the new season which was previously worn by former playmaker Santi Cazorla.

Petr Cech changed his number from 33 to No.1 following the arrival of Unai Emery, a potentially tactical move before the arrival of a serious competitor.

The No.1 jersey has been available since Wojciech Szczesny left us for Roma in 2015, though Cech didn’t feel the need to swap to the traditional goalkeeping number until now.

Leno’s arrival was announced last month for a reported fee of £19.2m, the third highest transfer fee paid for a goalkeeper by a British club.

It’s facts like those that have many believing that the 26-year-old will start between the sticks as Emery’s number one, especially given his proficiency on the ball.

Emery has made it clear that he wants us to build the play from the back and in modern football, a goalkeeper comfortable in possession allows you to have an extra man on the pitch.

It often allows a team to evade the press and get out of their defensive third with the ball on the ground.

Cech had an atrocious season last term and his shot-stopping skills certainly declined – whether or not that can be linked with his age is hard to determine.