A former Premier League goalkeeper has raised concerns about the motives behind Kepa Arrizabalaga’s anticipated transfer to Arsenal. The Spanish international is set to become the latest addition to the Gunners’ goalkeeping ranks, following an agreement with Chelsea to activate his £5 million release clause.
Kepa is expected to serve as deputy to David Raya next season, a development that prompted former Wrexham and Watford stopper Ben Forster to question whether the 30-year-old is content with a back-up role.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Forster openly challenged the goalkeeper’s drive and reliability. “It’s crazy at the age of 30, but it’s almost like he’s signalled that his playing days are over,” he said. “He’s happy playing second fiddle, where he knows he might play 10 games a season for the next five years.”
Former Chelsea man faces fresh scrutiny
Forster continued: “It’s a surprising one, because he’s re-established himself as a number one, a good-to-go, bona fide Premier League number one starting goalkeeper.
“By signing for Arsenal, I think he can say to the people around him or to the wider world, ‘Listen, I’m going there to compete and try and be the number one.’ But I think deep down, he knows why he’s going there.
“He’s not good enough to be near Raya and I think Arsenal know that as well. They’re signing a very capable back-up goalkeeper, but somebody that probably isn’t going to be reliable at that level.”
The comments follow what many would consider a strong campaign for Kepa on loan at Bournemouth. The Spaniard made 31 Premier League appearances, keeping eight clean sheets and establishing himself as the club’s undisputed number one.
Prior to that, he had a short stint with Real Madrid after falling out of favour at Chelsea, where he struggled to justify his £72 million price tag following his 2018 arrival.
Arsenal move divides opinion
After rediscovering form and confidence at Bournemouth, Kepa’s choice to join Arsenal, where he is unlikely to start regularly, has inevitably raised questions. While Forster’s assessment may appear harsh, it touches on a broader concern among fans about ambition and mentality.
Why Kepa Arrizabalaga would be a No Brainer for Arsenal.
That said, Kepa may offer more than just support. He will not only compete with Raya but could also challenge for the starting spot if he applies himself well. From Arsenal’s point of view, this looks like a shrewd piece of business. His experience and Premier League know-how come at a cut-price fee, giving the squad depth and security.
Back to Forster’s comments, should there be genuine concerns over his reliability? Please let us know in the comments below.
Benjamin Kenneth
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Forster knows that if we sign Kepa we would have gotten a great cover for Raya at a little fee.
Kappa is capable of playing every whenever Raya needs a rest.
If we take last season, Liverpool ,Mancity &Tottenham had very long spells without their first choice goalies.Reason enough why we need quality backup and Keppa is.
I don’t know what could have happened to us if were to miss Raya for such a long time.
Whatever you do people are bound to have strong opinions lol. It’s difficult to tell the motivation behind Kepa’s move; only he and those close to him know that. Maybe he and his family want to stay in London. Maybe he wants to have a chance of winning trophies which is more likely at Arsenal than Bournemouth. Maybe he genuinely thinks he can be the number one someday.
All I know is that from Arsenal’s point of view, it’s a good move- it’s much better than playing Neto or the Youth keepers. If Arsenal went for a washed goalkeeper, there’d be scrutiny too.
His name is Ben Foster, not Ben Forster 🤦🏽♂️
Question is: what other options are there for Kepa? I’m not aware that Bournemouth want to keep him, or if any other PL team has come for him.
So if he sees Arsenal as a good place to continue his career, what’s wrong with that?
From Arsenal’s point of view, only someone who doesn’t like the club would question their move for Kepa
This is not a good deal for Arsenal. I think Arsenal is making a big mistake here by signing Kepa. He is on a high wage. And You can’t pay someone a big salary only to stay on the bench. Moreover there are other better backup goal keepers that Arsenal should have signed. The only person that will benefit from this deal is Kept. He will have the chance to stay in London, play in the champions league and recieve big salary.
Its a strange one, bery strange. We are buying a no2. He will never be no1 but he could be for another team, of Bournemouth standing. Where is his desire to play first team football. It sound and looks all wrong. I never get, buying back ups, you stand still. And Kepas ambition has to be in question.
Who cares what his motivation is, honestly. As Onyango said above, maybe he wants to stay in London. Maybe he wants to be in a Champions League team, and is prepared to take his chances at getting some games in. Maybe he is secretly evil, and plans to nobble Raya in training and steal his place (jokes!).
He’s a quality backup, available now, at an outstanding price. We needed a backup, and were going to pay 25m to trigger Garcia’s release clause!
Yes and that reasoning sums up the lack of ambition. From kepa and the club.
Arsenal is a prestigious club that always aims for greatness, and to strengthen the squad, they must look for the finest talent available. With their participation in every cup competition, the Gunners are on the hunt for players who can truly elevate their game. This opens up exciting possibilities, allowing Arsenal to explore a wide range of options to find the perfect fit for the team.