Mikel Arteta admits he CANNOT promise that Bernd Leno will return as Arsenal’s No 1 goalkeeper

Mikel Arteta has refused to make assurances to goalkeeper Bernd Leno about his future as the German currently sits behind Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goalkeeper pecking order.

Leno was dropped by the Gunners head coach for Saturday’s victory over Norwich City, with Sportsmail revealing this week that the 29-year-old could face an Emirates Stadium exit at the end of the season.

Ramsdale, meanwhile, was signed by Arsenal this summer in a £30million move from Sheffield United and while the 23-year-old currently sits in the No 1 goalkeeper spot, Arteta admits he cannot make any promises to Leno that he will return in that role. 

Mikel Areta (left) cannot promise Bernd Leno (right) that he will return as Arsenal’s No 1 keeper

Aaron Ramsdale (above) started Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Norwich last week instead of Leno

Arteta told a press conference on Thursday: ‘What I said to the goalkeepers in the last two or three years is that we don’t want to do that (make assurances). 

‘What we want to do is empower performance and ask them to train, behave and play in the best possible way. How can I guarantee somebody to do something? It wouldn’t make sense with what we are demanding them to do. 

‘It’s on a daily basis. In football, what you did three months ago doesn’t count. It’s what you’re going to do today and tomorrow, and that’s it.’

Leno started Arsenal’s first three matches of the current Premier League season but the Gunners ended up losing all of those matches, with the German shot stopper conceding nine goals in the process.

Leno (above) had started the Gunners’ last three matches but ended up conceding nine goals 

Ramsdale was given a chance with the gloves following the September international break and could well keep his status as first-choice goalkeeper for the visit to Burnley this Saturday. 

Arteta admits that something had to change after the three defeats to Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City but praised Leno for his reaction to the news that he would be dropped as No 1. 

‘We had to change something and Aaron has come in here to try to make us better,’ Arteta added. ‘We needed a result on the day and I decided to play him, that’s all. 

Arteta admitted that something had to change after the Gunners lost their first three games

Arteta claimed Leno (right) and Ramsdale (left) should be supporting each other in the battle

‘We want them to make each other better. We are competing against opponents, we are not competing against each other here. 

‘We are just trying to bring in players that raise the level of the players who is playing that position, the level of the team, the level of the club and this is the only reason. 

‘Obviously for Bernd, it wasn’t a pleasing communication to tell him he wasn’t playing but he is a top professional and a top person so he should be disappointed but he should support his team-mate like they all do with him every time he has played, and that’s exactly what he has done.’