Arsenal lineup vs Norwich: Bernd Leno or Aaron Ramsdale?

Bernd Leno Hasn’t Done Enough to be Dropped

Leno was shocking on the opening day against Brentford.

Highlighting the opening goal in unfair but pretty much everything else he did on the night lacked anything you’d desire from a goalkeeperl: his kicking was woeful, commanding of his box nonexistent and decision-making on incoming crosses bizarre.

Then Chelsea came around and there was a distinct improvement. Arsenal may have lost but the German’s distribution was much cleaner.

Was he out of position for the opening goal? Maybe, but that might be a touch harsh.

As for Manchester City…well, he kept the score ‘respectable’. How sad of a statement that is.

Leno produced a number of fine shots and was clearly instructed to go long more than usual – Bukayo Saka is after all the perfect target man – although on this occasion communication and command were absent. There was clearly no chemistry between goalkeeper and defender all afternoon.

All in all, there are arguments for and against him being in the team for Norwich. However, the calibre of defender he’s been playing behind has to be factored in. Come the weekend he could be feeding a back four of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney, while midfield has the ball protection abilities of Thomas Partey to aim for.

That is in stark contrast to looking for the feet of Cedric Soares, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari or Sead Kolasinac. Absolutely no comparison. You’d feel sorry for any goalkeeper.

It’s widely expected that Leno will depart in 12 months’ time and dropping him out of the team already, without him having competent defenders to line up alongside, sets the precedent too early. Not only that, but him being dropped after three league games will tank whatever value he has left.

As it is now, he hasn’t done enough to be out of the team. Ramsdale will get his chances though, and at some stage this season there may be a changeover, whether carried out over gradual involvement or if Leno’s form plummets.

Before Ramsdale signed he was seen as an inferior goalkeeper to his teammate. Up until now nothing substantial has occurred from the outside looking in to change that.