There was one big problem with £19m player’s performance for Arsenal on Saturday

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Bernd Leno drew the adulation of Arsenal players after beating Aston Villa, but it was also clear just why Aaron Ramsdale is starting ahead of him.

Arsenal beat Villa 1-0 on Saturday afternoon with Bukayo Saka firing a first-half winner past former Gunners stopper Emiliano Martinez.

It was another clean sheet for Arsenal even without Ramsdale, who was missing due to a hip injury.

German Leno stepped up to fill in, starting a first Premier League game since the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City back in August.

It’s been a frustrating season for Leno, who has gone from clear first-choice stopper last season to barely playing at all this season.

Leno commanded his area well and made a crucial last-gasp save from Philippe Coutinho with Arsenal players mobbing him at full-time.

Ramsdale embraced Leno too, showing support for his fellow stopper.

£19m ace Leno played his part in a key Arsenal win, but it was also abundantly clear why Mikel Arteta is going with Ramsdale as his first-choice.

On far too many occasions, Leno’s distribution let him down against Aston Villa.

Goal kicks were flying out of play for throw-ins or going nowhere near Arsenal players.

This ultimately allowed Villa to get the ball back and launch attacks, especially in the second half.

It may not sounds all that important; a goalkeeper needs to keep the ball out of the net and Leno did that, so what’s the problem?

Arsenal have excelled with press-beating passes from Ramsdale this season, with his distribution absolutely vital to Arteta’s style of play.

You don’t quite get that with Leno, and that’s a crucial part of why the German is sat on the Arsenal bench most weeks.

Harsh it may be, but it was a noticeable difference in the Arsenal side on Saturday afternoon and we would certainly expect Ramsdale to walk back into the side when fit.