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.

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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…

Aaron Ramsdale Starting Against Norwich Wouldn’t be a Huge Surprise

Would anyone be massively shocked if the 23-year-old was given the nod on Saturday? Having seen Edu speak about the club’s transfer plans and that Arteta hasn’t had the chance to field all of his new men in the team, it’s not out of the question.

Edu was excited by the prospect; will Arteta be able to resist?

Another factor is the desire to refresh. To reinvigorate. The the team that was put out against Manchester City featured a back five with four players who shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting lineup.

All the talk is of the season ‘starting now’ and the inclusion of a £24m goalkeeper might be seen as facelift the side requires to look even remotely more improved than in the opening three matches. And, you know, he cost a few quid.

Fans aren’t privy to what has gone on behind the scenes in training and the coaching staff might have been overawed by Ramsdale’s passing, including in the behind-closed-doors friendly, while Leno has been away with Germany for international duty.

There is something about the positive attitude and vocal nature of Ramsdale that may play in his favour as the Emirates welcomes home fans on an emotional knife edge that could sway Arteta’s mind. Rumours of Ramsdale believing he will get the nod have also fueled the fires.

Should he, though?

Continued…

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.