Arteta facing definitive Arsenal decision to avoid repeating Man Utd mistake

When Arsenal splashed out £24million to sign Aaron Ramsdale, the debate over if and when he could replace Bernd Leno was sure to rage.

Mikel Arteta is insistent that the former Sheffield United 'keeper comes to provide competition to the German rather than directly replace him, but there is a feeling the switch could be made sooner, rather than later.

Ramsdale was given his Gunners debut in midweek and was rarely tested as they ran out 6-0 winners over his boyhood side West Brom.

But there were glimpses of why Arteta sanctioned the move, particularly his ability with the ball at his feet.

The Arsenal boss has become increasingly frustrated with the struggles his side have had when attempting to play out from the back.

Aaron Ramsdale kept a clean sheet on his Arsenal debut in midweek

During a pre-season clash with Chelsea, Arteta was visibly annoyed as Leno opted to smash the ball forward, rather than try to build out from the back.

Despite a relatively straightforward Arsenal debut, his new boss was impressed: "I think it was a really strong debut. You can see his personality, he's comfortable on the ball and I'm really glad for him.

"I'm really happy with him. He hasn't trained a lot with us, but you can see the qualities he has.

"He's a really young goalkeeper - he's done a lot already in the league and you can see the presence and the personality he has when he plays."

Attention will now turn to Manchester City at Saturday lunchtime where Arteta will show his immediate intentions with the starting line-up.

It promises to be a difficult afternoon against the champions and there may be a temptation to keep his new signing out of the starlet.

Mikel Arteta has a tough decision to make in the coming weeks

However, the questions will remain and Arsenal will be keen to avoid the kind of situation which Manchester United currently find themselves in.

The goalkeeper debate at Old Trafford started when the man Ramsdale replaced at Sheffield United, Dean Henderson, returned to his parent club.

Henderson started last season in a similar position to the new Gunners stopper. On the bench, but more than ready to step up.

The battle between De Gea and Henderson left the Englishman "exhausted" ( Image:

PA)

And after impressing in cup competitions, he was handed a chance in the Premier League when David de Gea returned to Spain to be present for the birth of his first child.

The Englishman retained his spot in the league, with De Gea relegated to the specialist cup keeper.

But even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted that the long-term situation needed to be resolved and perhaps more concerningly, Henderson suggested the whole ordeal left him "exhausted".

"Listen, after last season, it was very difficult for me," Henderson told talkSPORT. "I worked every day, day-in and day-out, I was grinding down to get into that team at Man United.

"I went through every brick wall I could get through, I fought hard and when I got into the team I was shattered, I was exhausted."

Solskjaer is still yet to make a definitive decision on his No.1, Arteta will be keen to reach a conclusion much more quickly.