Nigel de Jong told The Football Show on Sky Sports (25/08/21 at 11:40 am) that Bernd Leno would be ‘rattled’ by Arsenal’s transfer decision to bring in Aaron Ramsdale.
The former Manchester City midfielder thinks Mikel Arteta’s is ‘not happy’ with Leno, hence why he has brought in Ramsdale.
Leno, who joined Arsenal in 2018 for £19 million (Guardian), has one year left on his current deal in North London.
Given that the Gunners paid Sheffield United £24 million for Ramsdale’s services (BBC Sport), it’s pretty clear that he won’t be warming the bench for long.
De Jong queried Arteta’s call to bring in the Englishman and what this could mean for his German counterpart.
“I think Arteta is not happy with Leno, at this stage,” said de Jong. “So, he has brought in a goalkeeper that’s going to right now have a little bit more security in that box, especially for that defence.
“Leno would be rattled by bringing in a new goalkeeper, so is that really going to do a good effect on the whole atmosphere in the team?
“But, at the end of the day, Arteta knows what he wants. He knows what the players are like, and clearly, he is looking for a new goalkeeper because he isn’t 100% committed to Leno.”
Ramsdale made his Arsenal debut last night as Arteta’s side well and truly thumped a much-changed West Brom team 6-0 in the EFL Cup.
For now, it seems as though Ramsdale will be playing behind Leno in the Premier League, although if there are any hiccups from the German then it’s obvious what is going to happen.
But it seems as though Leno is set to depart on a free next summer and that’s when Ramsdale will take the main gloves.
Either way, it’s risky business from Arsenal that could come with some serious rewards at the end of it.
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