Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is full of praise for number two shot-stopper Bernd Leno.

The German has needed to wait his turn for most of this campaign, playing second fiddle to Aaron Ramsdale.

But with Ramsdale suffering from a hip injury, Leno is set to start against Crystal Palace on Monday.

"I have a lot of sympathy with every player that doesn't play and doesn't get the chances they probably deserve, but unfortunately that's the game," said Arteta.

"[Leno] has been consistent in the way he trained, the way he behaved, in those months, waiting for the opportunity and, when he had it, to take it.

"From my side it was very clear and I was very honest from the first day. Because I never said [to Ramsdale and Leno]: 'You're going to be one and two'. Never.

"There is not a personal thing in that decision at all and it cannot be taken personally.

"I can give you hundreds of examples [of a senior player having a reduced role]. When you start to get to 30, 31 and 32 it's going to happen, I guarantee it's going to happen at some stage in your career.

"But if it is that late I think it's a good sign, that means you've been pretty consistent because it can happen much earlier.

"Personally, another factor is environment because it's not only the player – it is his family, his father, his nan, his agent, everyone saying: 'Why aren't you playing? I don't agree'.

"It's normal because they all want the best for that player. But we want the best, so if we make a decision to play somebody else it's because we believe in that moment it's better for the team to play somebody else. That's it."