It would be an understatement to say that the signing of Aaron Ramsdale was a controversial one amongst Arsenal supporters.
The former Sheffield United star had suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and with the Blades and AFC Bournemouth.
And given the problems in Arsenal’s squad, a backup keeper was hardly the main priority, let alone one for £22m.
Yet fast-forward to now, and a lot of Ramsdale’s harshest critics have begun to warm to the England international. After all, the 23-year-old keeper has made two starts for Arsenal and kept clean sheets in both matches.
And now, according to the Daily Mail, Ramsdale is set to keep his spot in the first team. With Bernd Leno dropping to the Arsenal bench.
Indeed, this decision, like many Mikel Arteta has made as manager of Arsenal, is an unusual one, to say the least.
Arteta is taking a risk in dropping Arsenal no. 1 Leno
Ramsdale becoming the number one keeper was something that always seemed to be in the Basque coach’s plan.
Yet making him the first-choice after just two games where the 23-year-old hardly had to do much against a West Brom B team and a Norwich side that didn’t threaten is a massive risk.
The decision is even more confusing when you consider that Leno, who joined in 2018 for £19m, has not made a single error this season. With the defence being the main issue why Arsenal shipped nine goals in their first three games.
Arteta is a fan of the German, with the Arsenal boss labelling Leno as ‘magnificent’ last season. And whilst Leno will likely leave north London in the next 12 months, the Premier League are taking an almighty risk giving Ramsdale the nod this early in the season.
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