Mikel Arteta has addressed what Bernd Leno ‘needs’ to do after the goalkeeper made his first appearance in a month as Arsenal beat Leeds United on Tuesday, via football.london.
Leno returned to guard the Gunners’ net against the Whites in the Carabao Cup with Arteta resting Aaron Ramsdale. The German had not featured for the north Londoners’ since the previous round of the competition as they beat Wimbledon.
Ramsdale has ousted Leno as Arteta’s first-choice since joining Arsenal in a £24m summer transfer from Sheffield United. Taking the gloves in their last six Premier League fixtures, in which the Emirates Stadium natives are unbeaten.
Arsenal lost each of their three top-flight games with Leno between the sticks in August as Arteta’s initial number one. The Spaniard now wants to see Leno support his teammates when out of the side, but be ready to perform when needed, as he was against Leeds.
“I think he competed really well the other day and he showed his level,” Arteta said. “That’s what he’s here for and when he plays, he needs to be at his best level. And when he’s not [playing], he needs to support his teammates like everybody else does.”
Should Arteta make Leno the #1 at Arsenal again?
Ramsdale has kept four clean sheets across all competitions for the Gunners since leaving Bramall Lane for the Emirates. The 23-year-old has given Arteta no reason to bench him and reinstall Leno as Arsenal’s number one.
But Leno did himself no harm against Leeds, as the £22m signing from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018 continually looked sharp. His saves to deny Jack Harrison and Dan James in the first-half were particularly key. And Arteta will expect him to maintain that level going forward.
The £100k-a-week shot-stopper faces another potential month on the sidelines, though. With Ramsdale the first-choice in the league, Leno faces waiting until Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final to feature for Arteta again.
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