Redknapp criticises Arteta over decision in Arsenal ‘nightmare’

Joe Williams
Jamie Redknapp Arsenal

Jamie Redknapp thinks Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta should’ve stuck with Bernd Leno instead of bringing Alex Runarsson in for their 4-1 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Runarsson should have done better with the opener from Gabriel Jesus and was at fault for Riyad Mahrez’s strike as he let a free-kick pass straight through his grasp.

And Redknapp was reluctant to criticise Runarsson but thought it “didn’t really make sense playing him in the first place.”


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Redknapp said on Sky Sports: “I almost feel bad jumping into his nightmare. It’s one of those, people make mistakes.

“From a goalkeeping perspective, it looks like he gets his body in the right position and takes his eye off the ball at the last second.

“I suppose it can happen. These things happen and we’ve seen it happen to great goalkeepers in the past.

“I think he was at fault for the first goal as well. He made a brilliant save from Jesus, so what can you say? It’s a nightmare for the poor boy.

“I’m sure Arsenal fans are thinking, ‘Why didn’t we play Leno? Why didn’t we play our number one goalkeeper?’. Goalkeepers don’t need to rest. I know it’s the Carabao Cup but it’s a big game for him today and it didn’t really make sense playing him in the first place.

“But that being said, hopefully he comes back from it quickly and gets over it because it’s one of those things. You’ve got to pick yourself up.”