Leno weighs in on Arsenal goalkeeper saga after Ramsdale dropped for Raya
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno insists he "sympathises" with former team-mate Aaron Ramsdale after the Arsenal goalkeeper suffered the same fate as him in being dropped by Mikel Arteta.
Leno was the first-choice keeper at Arsenal before Arteta ousted him in favour of Ramsdale, prior to his departure to Fulham. The German international said he was given "a couple of excuses I didn't understand" as to why Ramsdale was preferred ahead of him and that he was sold despite the fact he "wanted to fight for my place".
Ramsdale is now in a similar situation following the signing of David Raya from Brentford, who has been preferred ahead of him in Arsenal's last two games and now appears to be Arteta's clear No.1. Opening up on his own experience, Leno told the Times : "At the start of the 2021 season, we lost the first three games and after the international break all of a sudden it was, 'We need to change players and have positive energy'.
"There were a couple of excuses I didn't understand and I have to say, unfortunately, it's more or less the same with Ramsdale. It has happened [again] after the international break. I was thinking: 'That's more or less the same as with me.'
"I was thinking about Aaron, he's a very good guy. I know how he feels, there are some similarities. When I wanted to fight for my place, the goalkeeper coach said, 'You have to leave the club.' When he said it wasn't about performance, I knew straight away I had to leave.
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"I don't know if they didn't want two strong 'keepers. I had one year left on my contract. So it was the last time to make money off me." However, Arteta has claimed he plans to rotate both Ramsdale and Ray during the season and suggested he would even consider substituting goalkeepers during a game.
Asked about Arteta's comments, Leno said he would be taken aback if he was ever substituted without being injured. "I would feel very strange and very surprised if I would see the No 17 was coming off in minute 75," he said.
Mikel Arteta plans to rotate David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale this season (Getty Images)Who is the better goalkeeper? Raya or Ramsdale? Have your say in the comments below.
"Everyone in the stadium would be surprised. It doesn't matter if it's myself or Alisson [the Liverpool 'keeper], it doesn't make sense. And it wouldn't make sense if I was the goalie who was coming on. The 'keeper coming on would feel even worse than me, coming on and not warmed up with no contact with the ball and no feeling for the distances."
Leno explained how he would advise any managers against optionally switching goalkeepers mid-match as he feels the position is too "passive". He feels unlike an outfield player who can come on and impact a game, goalkeepers are more there "to react" and can't necessarily "dictate the situation".
He added that a goalkeeper coming into the match late on would also find it difficult adapting to the pace of the game as "you are not in the flow". Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for the North London Derby, with Raya expected to be given the nod to start.
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