Bernd Leno has opened the door to leaving Arsenal and said there have been no talks to extend his contract, which runs until 2023.
Leno, 29, began the season in a battle to be first-choice goalkeeper with Emiliano Martínez, who had his chance because of an injury to Leno last season and helped Arsenal win the FA Cup and the Community Shield. Leno returned for the opening league match this season against Fulham and Martínez declined to travel, joining Aston Villa for £20 million the following week. Arsenal needed to raise money for transfers and there had been no offer for Leno, who joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen for £22.5 million in 2018.
This summer Arsenal may have to make a decision whether to commit to Leno long-term. Under Raul Sanllehi, the club’s former head of football, they tried to implement a policy of not letting players get into the final two years of their contract.
“I’m open for everything: for a new adventure or stay at Arsenal,” Leno said before the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague tomorrow. “I don’t think about my future because two years is a long time. At the moment there are no conversations with the club. At the moment it is not the time to speak about the future. I am 29, which is not too old for a goalkeeper. I am very happy at the club.”
Arsenal conceded a stoppage-time goal to draw 1-1 in the first leg at home last week. They have qualified for European competition every season since 1996-97 but could miss out this year if they don’t win the Europa League — their present league position of ninth would not be good enough — which could cost them tens of millions in revenue. “When you think about the future without Arsenal in a European competition, it doesn’t feel right,” Leno said. “Our job is to make sure that doesn’t come true. Arsenal belongs to Europe and that’s our target and that’s our job.”
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At full-time last week, Granit Xhaka was furious with Cédric and Rob Holding and shouted: “Just clear the f***ing ball away, man,” referring to Arsenal conceding possession and a late corner, from which Slavia scored. Arsenal similarly threw away a lead against Burnley last month when Xhaka’s errant pass struck Chris Wood for a bizarre equaliser.
Leno said he was not the type of person to confront players as Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, did when he ran out of goal to shout at Son Heung-min for not pressing against Everton in July. The Spurs pair had to be restrained by team-mates.
“Of course we have made some mistakes but in some situations we have to have a feeling how to behave in front of your team-mates because as a player you know when you have made a mistake,” he said. “I don’t see the point of going to my team-mate to blame him.
“We have to be positive, to show positive body language. My mindset is to create a positive atmosphere on the pitch. So I could not see any situations where we have to fight in the game. Most of the time I don’t see the point in creating a fight on the pitch or even in the dressing room.”
Mikel Arteta, the head coach, accepted that Arnsel need to go through tomorrow night to show outsiders that they are making progress and he has been boosted by Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe being fit, although Martin Odegaard is a doubt with an ankle injury.
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“It’s very important for us and this is our club,” Arteta said. “The only tangible thing is results. Whether you’re doing a good job or not, to judge it externally is only going to be judged with results. We’ve shown that in big games, big players have to step in and create the magic moments and you need that. So let’s hope that we can have them.”
Europa League quarter-final, second leg
Slavia Prague (1) v Arsenal (1)
Tomorrow, 8pm
Live on BT Sport 1 and talkSPORT
