Arsenal legend Martin Keown has suggested that there is nothing wrong with Bernd Leno looking fairly glum on the bench against Leicester City.
£100,000-a-week Leno started the season as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper but is now stuck on the bench.
Summer signing Aaron Ramsdale has quickly established himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice stopper this season.
With Ramsdale shining of late, Leno faces a real battle getting back into the Arsenal team.
Ramsdale made a stunning save to deny James Maddison in the 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday, earning huge praise.
Leno cracked a smile at that save, but fans spotted him looking pretty downbeat on the bench despite Arsenal’s win.
Arsenal legend Keown has now told The Mirror that there is nothing wrong with Leno’s demeanour on the bench.
Keown thinks you don’t want players smiling whilst sat on the bench, and that players should be gutted to not be playing.
Keown added that he thought Leno was ‘immensely professional’ against Leeds last week, but he just has to sit and be patient behind Ramsdale right now.
“You don’t want players on the bench with smiling faces,” said Keown. “I have to say I thought Leno was immensely professional in the game midweek against Leeds and showed really good character. You want two very good goalkeepers, do you not?”
“You want to put one another under pressure and that’s what I see, an honest fight for the jersey. That was an outstanding performance from Ramsdale, but Arsenal will want to minimise the shots that he had to face,” he added.
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