Arsenal lineup vs Norwich: Bernd Leno or Aaron Ramsdale?

It’s become a growing point of conversation as Arsenal build up towards Saturday’s Premier League clash with Norwich: does Mikel Arteta keep faith with Bernd Leno or bring Aaron Ramsdale into the starting lineup?

When you spend £24m, which is set to rise to £30m in due course, on a goalkeeper who doesn’t come in as the outright number one there are inevitable debates that bubble to the surface.

Have Arsenal overpaid? Is Ramsdale worth the outlay? Could the transfer have waited? Is Leno’s position under threat?

Like near enough every player in Arteta’s squad, such is the natural order of things, there is a divide on whether Leno is the right man to be in between the sticks for Arsenal.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Should Mikel Arteta select Aaron Ramsdale or Bernd Leno as his goalkeeper when Arsenal host Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday?

A goalkeeper signed for his ability with his feet for a £23m fee in 2018, in the four years and 100 appearances that have passed since he joined either his footwork has worsened, the game has evolved or everyone has blown out of proportion the deterioration.

Or, maybe, he wasn’t all that good with his feet in the first place.

In any case, Leno has come under criticism. Last season there were calls for Mat Ryan to replace him in the starting lineup and this was someone who was only here for six months and out of form at Brighton.

Factor in a record-breaking transfer fee parted with for a goalkeeper and once faint murmurs are reaching more audible levels. And that’s an interesting points since it’s fair to say the large majority of supporters were originally opposed to the idea of Ramsdale joining from Sheffield United.

The fee played a part, but also the calibre of goalkeeper. Being part of back-to-back Premier League relegated sides was overly leaned on, just as him being POTY for both those clubs was taken too literally – not a discredit to him, but someone has to win those awards and the guy who faces 20 shots a game is usually a prevalent figure.

Making his debut against West Brom with the away fans smitten by his on-field demeanour while the rest of the pack were endeared by someone who is clearly a lovely man and the right character, he’s now held in higher esteem.

And with a crucial encounter up next, the non-heated conversation over who should be given the gloves has emerged: Ramsdale or Leno?

Continued…