Mikel Arteta's difficult decision has obvious answer for North London derby

The signing of Aaron Ramsdale is one that was greeted with scepticism by a large section of Arsenal fans who had their doubts over the former Sheffield United goalkeeper.

A month later, few members of the Arsenal faithful could argue with the 23-year-old keeping his place between the sticks for the upcoming north London derby.

In what was a disastrous start to the Premier League season for Mikel Arteta's side, the Gunners lost all of their opening three games - failing to score and conceding nine in the process, regular number one Bernd Leno in goal for all of them.

However, Leno was dropped for the recent visit of newly-promoted Norwich City in favour of Ramsdale - a clean sheet duly followed as Arsenal toppled the Canaries via a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal.

Arsenal's Bernd Leno has been dropped in favour of Aaron Ramsdale for the last two league fixtures.(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

With no reason to change a winning formula, Arteta persisted with Ramsdale for the trip to Burnley - who posed a far greater test in terms of physicality, but the England international was up to the task once again as the Gunners won by the same scoreline as the previous week.

Ramsdale, far more active at Turf Moor than against Norwich, actually went on to have a crucial part to play in Arsenal's victory after his tackle on Matej Vydra was deemed fair after a VAR review of the incident, sparing his side's blushes and preventing a penalty for Sean Dyche's side.

The 'keepers form has sparked debate over whether the more experienced shot-stopper in Leno will return for the home clash against Spurs given the magnitude of the tie.

That same argument has prompted backlash from a healthy chunk of Gunners fans who feel Ramsdale has done nothing to warrant losing his place.

Ultimately, manager Arteta risks rocking the boat by dropping Ramsdale given Arsenal's clean sheet record with him in goal - three games, three clean sheets.

His return to the bench would also set an unhealthy precedent among other fringe players looking to make their way into the first team, dropping a player who has been near-faultless in favour of a 'bigger name' sends all the wrong messages.

The decision to drop Leno in the first place has sparked criticism from former England keeper Paul Robinson, who questioned why Ramsdale was signed in the first place.

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Aaron Ramsdale has kept clean sheets in all three of his Arsenal appearances ( Image:

2021 Getty Images)

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson said: "He [Leno] will get angry because his mental state is not right. His head is not in the right place.

"It is difficult as a goalkeeper when you are in and out of the side. Goalkeepers like to know if they are number one or number two.

"When there is a pecking order and you are told where you are in the pecking order you can accept it. You do not want to be fighting for your place every week.

"I cannot understand the signing of Ramsdale. He's not any better than Leno."