Arsenal shot-stopper Bernd Leno has made it clear he wants to play in the Europa League final against Chelsea despite Petr Cech being the club’s designated Cup goalkeeper.
Despite the significance of Wednesday’s game in Baku – with Champions League qualification on the line for the Gunners – back-up keeper Cech is expected to start, just as he has done in each of Arsenal’s previous European knockout matches.
However, plenty of fans are keen to see Leno restored to the starting XI, particularly after it was reported that Cech has already agreed to return to Chelsea after he leaves Arsenal.
While Leno is full of admiration for Cech, he says he wants to play in the final – which would be the biggest game of his career.
‘I have great respect for Petr, and we get along very well,’ the Arsenal No.1 told Kicker.
‘He deserves all credit, and I treat him well, but it’s clear that I’m an athlete, I want to always play, especially in a final.
‘To win the Europa League would be the first big title for me. We all want to hear the [Champions League] anthem again.
‘The Thursday-Sunday rhythm is also not so good because you always suffer in the league. If we lose the final, our season, which was actually good, would be disappointing.’
Arsenal will be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan for the match in Baku, with UEFA unable to guarantee his safety amid political tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Leno is annoyed by the situation.
He added: ‘It’s a scandal that he cannot play because of that, he works hard all season and cannot come to such a final for political reasons. I’m just sorry for him.’
