Leno v Martinez - did Arsenal keep the right keeper?

Did Mikel Arteta make the right decision to keep Bernd Leno over Emi Martinez in the summer?

By Adam Le Roux

Decisions, decisions, decisions…. They’re tough enough at the best of times, but as a football manager, you can change your club’s fortunes in a split second with a yes or a no.  

For Mikel Arteta, there’s been choices aplenty since he was appointed head coach nearly a year ago, but one that may play on his mind more than most is his choice of goalkeeper in the summer. 

Emi Martinez had been at the club for just under a decade before a move to Aston Villa in the close-season, as the boss opted for Bernd Leno to stay as his number one choice between the sticks. 

He may not have played all that much in his time at the Emirates, but last season saw the Argentinian prove himself to be more than capable of playing in the Premier League; standing in when his fellow shot stopper was out with a knee injury.  

And that taste of top flight football made Emi hungry for more, but with Arteta opting for the German this season, he made the £17m switch to Villa Park - a move which his boss wasn’t going to stand in the way of.  

“He was still very willing to get the No.1 shirt and play regularly but we had to give him the choice to decide where he wanted to play,” Arteta said. 

“He has earned a lot of respect in this country, he has been here for 10 years and with his performances for us in the last few months. 

“He believed it was the right club for him so I was happy to let him go and make the right decision for his career. 

“He has become really hungry, really competitive and really clear about what he wanted to do in the next chapter of his career, so I am sure he will be a success.” 

Villa have the joint-best defensive record in the league this season, and Martinez has been a major factor in shoring up a backline that shipped 67 goals in the last campaign, second only to rock-bottom Norwich City.  

It was plain to see on his return to the Emirates for the first time since his departure how dominant he is in the air, as well as his shot-stopping ability when called upon.  

In Martinez’s absence, we have seen the best and the worst of Leno this season, with the 28-year-old pulling out all manner of saves when we have been up against it, before dropping a clanger minutes later.  

The Europa League seems to be the problem for the German, with an inerrant pass being pounced upon by Taxiarchis Fountas to give Rapid Vienna in the Gunners’ first match in the competition.  

That was followed up by a poor attempt to keep out Martin Ellingsen’s strike for Molde last week, leaving the Gunners to come from behind to take victory on both occasions.  

It begs the question, does Leno fit in with the style of play that Mikel Arteta is trying to establish at the club?  

After that misplaced pass in Vienna, the boss was quick to defend his shot stopper, and demanded that the whole team is given time to adapt. 

“They will understand better and better the type of balls that we have to play in those areas and in relation to where the pressure is coming, and the distances that you can manage from the opponent,” he said. 

"After that everything will be better, but obviously in a split second you have to make a decision, you have to get the right touch, the right pass and as well the opponent is waiting for that so again it is something we have to keep working on. 

"If we want to play in the way that I want to, it is necessary that we keep doing it in our build up play.” 

For all of Leno’s qualities, there are still a number of question marks over his game, but with only the untested Alex Runarsson in reserve, his place between the posts seems assured for the season ahead.  

With Martinez it will always be a case of what could have been, but will he be the one that got away?