Bernd Leno calls out Mikel Arteta for swapping goalkeepers

Ex-Arsenal number one Bernd Leno has recently publicly criticised Mikel Arteta's method of swapping goalkeepers depending on the opposition.

The Arsenal manager has come out in the past week and defended his decision to switch between his goalkeepers, comparing it to outfield players.

“I’ve been in this job three and a half years and I have few regrets with what I’ve done." Arteta stated in his post-match press conference following his side's win last weekend against Everton.

“(I felt) in two games, in this period, to change the keeper in that moment. But I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it.

“But I’m able to take a winger, or a striker off, or put a central defender on to drop to a back-five and hold that result. We drew those games and I was so unhappy.

“That’s strange? Why? Why not? We have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something when something is happening and you want to change momentum. Do it."

Arsenal signed Brentford's David Raya on loan in the summer with an option to buy next year, with the idea of the Spaniard challenging Ramsdale for the starting spot.

Bernd Leno has publicly opposed these views of his former manager recently, re-iterating the importance of having a regular no.1 in your team.

The Fulham shot-stopper claimed: “As a manager I would never change my goalkeeper.

"To say, ‘Oh, today I need a goalkeeper good with his feet or one good at crosses,’ or, ‘Today I need a good shot-stopper because we play against Man City and they will have ten shots or something.’”

Leno played under Arteta at Arsenal for three seasons before moving to Fulham. Image: Getty

Leno was Arteta's no.1 goalkeeper for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 season, even coming in as runner-up for Arsenal's Player of the Season Award in 19/20, behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

However, following the signing of Aaron Ramsdale in the summer of 2021, the German was relegated to second-choice, making just four league appearances all season.

It ultimately resulted in the ex-Bayer Leverkusen keeper moving across London to Fulham, where he has enjoyed a spell as the club's first-choice number one.