Aaron Ramsdale absence shows Arsenal what they’re missing

There was speculation flying around in the build up to Villa Park that Aaron Ramsdale had missed training the previous day’s training due to injury. It appeared to be Arsenal hearsay, until the teams were announced an hour before kick-off.

Often there are rumours of this sort aimed to cause unrest, but these proved to be true with Ramsdale, who was due to head off on international duty with England, suffering a hip injury that will leave him out of action for a ‘few weeks’.

That meant that Bernd Leno would be handed his first start in the Premier League since August, a game where he happened to concede no fewer than five goals.

Even if Ramsdale hasn’t been squeaky clean of late – with a few errors creeping into his game – the loss of the 23-year-old is still a big blow. He’s been fundamental to the lift of confidence the back four has had, while his flexibility with both feet and in his distribution have played their part in the Gunners’ form across the season.

Aaron Ramsdale absence against Aston Villa shows Arsenal what they’re missing with Bernd Leno’s kicking much less effective

But if there is an area in the squad where an injury isn’t as keenly felt, it’s in goal. Leno has slipped down most peoples’ estimations due to the number of errors he’s made and the lack of command he has of his box, so to come in after so many months sat on the bench did strike a bit of fear into many.

And yet, despite lacking sharpness, he came into the team and collected wide deliveries confidently, flung himself across goal and chipped in with a flying save with the last kick of the game. You have to credit his character. On every occasion where he was called into play he produced the requisite action. You tip your hat to him, just as you want to give him a hug. With the season he’s had, it will have meant the world to him.

However, what his inclusion in the team did remind everyone is that Ramsdale’s kicking can’t be taken for granted.

Leno’s distribution beyond 15 yards at Villa Park was rather dreadful.

One must heed caution, however; the German hadn’t played top tier football since the previous summer and naturally there would be some rustiness in his game, the like that with time could be fine-tuned. Nonetheless, he’s never been anywhere near elite with his long distribution and that showed against Villa.

It is less of a slight on him, and more of an approbation of Ramsdale. The summer signing has the fizz, the accuracy, the variation and the vision with the ball at his feet, all of which is met with deadly execution. You don’t realise how important it is until it’s gone.

Whether or not this will be Leno’s final act or not will depend on the severity of his teammate’s injury, but supporters can be pleased that it has at least come during a period where Arsenal have more than a two week break until they’re next in action.

What that result and performance will do is give Leno the confidence he needs to come back into the team and repeat the act if necessary, although ideally with some slightly more accurate long kicking. Because, as much as his display is about celebrating the positives, it’s easy to see why Ramsdale is getting the nod on distribution alone.