01 Oct 2018 08:09:45
V Qarabag
As Cech is injured and could be out for some time, should we select Martinez to gain valuable first team match time as he is cover for Leno? Leno can then return for the Fulham match.
01 Oct 2018 09:01:57
I think we will and should give Leno as many minutes as we can in his early days as first choice, gives him valuable getting to know his defence time plus a real chance to stake his claim as our permanent first choice keeper.
I see the reason for giving Martinez a game but in reality he's an emergency keeper who will for this season at least be a last resort apposed to an alternative.
You can't cover every possible scenario just in case it happens if Martinez should be needed at any point he will have to either sink or swim in the deep end.
01 Oct 2018 13:05:37
Fair point G62. My thinking was that while Cech is out injured, Leno steps in as number one, playing league matches and Martinez takes over from Leno as the EL and Carabao Cup keeper. This gives Martinez valuable match time, so he gets up to first team pace, whilst it reduces the chance of Leno picking up an injury.
{Ed002's Note - Be like a Sunday school team then.}
01 Oct 2018 14:39:51
Hi Ed002 - That's the way Wenger tended to do it, using Cech as his PL keeper and Ospina as his cup keeper. Emery seems to be doing the same with Cech as the PL keeper and Leno as his cup keeper. With Cech injured it seems sensible to do the same with Leno and Martinez. I believe other clubs utilise a similar policy.
I am confused as to the Sunday school team comment.
{Ed002's Note - I don't know of clubs that have any strange hierarchy like this - sure the reserve goalkeepers get a run out incup games, but the majority of clubs leave it to the manager to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.}
01 Oct 2018 15:10:38
Yes, the manager makes the decision on a match to match basis. However, I checked some of the top clubs and they rest the number one keeper for the Carabao cup this season. Of course once winning the cup becomes a possibility, some teams may play the strongest eleven.
In the CL, clubs tend to play their number one keeper, due to the importanof the competition. Teams have been known to change the team once they know they are out and have to complete the fixtures in the mini-league section.
{Ed002's Note - I think that is what I said, but I am not aware of clubs that have a hierarchy moving down through to the third and fourth choice players.}
01 Oct 2018 16:12:23
Niether Leno or Martinez have much Arsenal first team experience so I think it's important to get Leno up to speed as quickly as possible by giving him all the game time possible, it's true of course that he runs the risk of injury but every player runs that risk in every game it's just something you can't predict or control.
Arsene tried to protect the players from injury by not letting them tackle fully in training but being over protective backfired on him badly for years.
Sometimes you've just got to let the cards fall where they fall on things you can't control and just do what you think is right and makes most sense at the time.