We almost got our fingers Bernd, says relieved Leno
ARSENAL goalkeeper Bernd Leno has conceded his side were lucky to earn a 2-2 draw away to Norwich.
Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helped the Gunners twice come from behind to take a point in the Premier League at Carrow Road in their first game since the sacking of Unai Emery.
But it could have been different had Leno not made fine saves to deny Kenny McLean and Teemu Pukki on Sunday.
Freddie Ljungberg began his spell as interim manager with a draw after the exit of Emery on Friday and it is now eight games without a win for Arsenal.
Leno said: ‘At the end it was confusing because in the first half we played exactly how we wanted but conceded two goals in transition. In the second half, we lost control of the game and were lucky to draw.
‘It’s always strange and sad when a manager loses his job. I think Emery did a very good job for one-and-a-half years but the club decided to change the manager and something in the team.
‘We just have to look forward and we saw the team was different.’
Gunners hero Ljungberg will reportedly be given a chance to stake a claim for the permanent job but warned it will take time for him to make the changes he wants as he prepares for his first home game.
Speaking before the visit of Brighton on Thursday, the 42-year-old said: ‘Normally a pre-season is five to six weeks and you can implement how you want to play football but I don’t have that [time].
‘I just try to do small building blocks and try to change things in a slow tempo so people can understand and practice.
‘Now players need to recover and we’ll probably get one-and-a-half [training] sessions in [before Brighton] but that’s football. I just try to make things simple as possible and hopefully we get better.’