Arnold admits Curle's rotation policy keeps him on his toes

Goalkeeper Steve Arnold admits Keith Curle's unusual rotation policy 'keeps me on my toes' after he was restored to the starting line-up this week.

Arnold was Curle's first-choice at the start of the season but dropped out of the side for his part in Plymouth's two goals back in the middle of October. Jonathan Mitchell then came in and started 10 successive matches.

It was then Mitchell's turn to lose his spot, however, after he failed to keep out Stephen Humphrys' late free-kick at Rochdale last week, with Arnold recalled to the team for Tuesday's win over Fleetwood Town.

It is typical of Curle's belief that he does not have a number one or a number two but instead two goalkeepers that are both capable of playing any given week.

"It's just the way the gaffer works and it's a case of, if you're dropped, it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be in the team for a long time," said Arnold.

"It keeps you on your toes, I will say that much! It's the way he likes to work but Mitch has been quality, he really has, and it's been up to me to keep up in training and just be patient for that opportunity.

"Knowing the way the gaffer is, I've had to make sure I'm ready when called upon. Credit to Mitch and credit to Dan Watson the goalkeeping coaching for keeping us going because it is a tough job.

"I get on well with Mitch. I had it with Dai (Cornell) last year as well and I try to have that positive relationship wherever I go because it just makes things easier and we both want that spot.

"We're professionals and he ends up being your best mate. There's no other way of going about it. He's probably my closest friend at the club and we're both competing for that shirt and luckily enough I took it on Tuesday.

"But I know he's champing at the bit to get back into the team and that's the beauty of it. It can be a strange relationship but it's important to get along due to the nature of the job."

Arnold did well to keep out Ched Evans' free-kick in the first-half of Tuesday's game but, that save aside, he was well protected by his defenders.

"It came through a few bodies so it was nice to make the save and hold onto it to prevent the corner but I only had one or two other saves throughout the whole game and that's credit to the boys in front of me," added the 31-year-old.

"You only have to look at the quality they brought off the bench to see how good they are but I thought we saw it out brilliantly. It was always going to be a bit backs-to-the-wall once we scored the goal but I thought we defended, to a man, superbly as a whole team.

"I kept looking at the clock and it seemed to be stuck on 70 minutes at one point! But that's what we love as defenders and goalkeepers - come at us, try and beat us, put crosses in the box and we'll defend it.

"It seemed to be a hell of a long time and that five minutes of stoppage-time felt a lot longer! But we saw it out and it was lovely to get a clean sheet and a win."