Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Illan Meslier as a free agent after he left Leeds United this summer, and Kepa Arrizabalaga now wants to leave the Emirates, according to the BBC.
The Spaniard only joined Arsenal a year ago to challenge David Raya for the first-choice position, and the club were pleased to have a reliable backup goalkeeper in the squad.
However, Raya remained fit for most of the season, limiting Kepa to appearances in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, while Raya featured in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Meslier’s arrival could reshape Arsenal’s goalkeeping options
Although Arsenal progressed deep into the domestic cup competitions, Kepa still did not play as much as he would have liked. As a result, he is now expected to leave the Emirates in search of more regular opportunities.
The report states that Kepa has learned Meslier is set to join Arsenal and is now actively looking for another club where he can prove his worth.
The goalkeeper is seeking regular game time this season and does not want to remain a second choice who rarely features. Arsenal are not expected to stand in his way if he decides to pursue a move elsewhere.
Kepa expected to seek regular football
If Kepa remains at the club, he will have to compete with Meslier for the role of Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper and the opportunity to feature in domestic cup matches.
Keeping both goalkeepers would provide Arsenal with strong depth, but neither player would be expected to accept the role of third choice. That situation could make Kepa’s departure the most likely outcome before the transfer window closes.
With Meslier expected to strengthen Arsenal’s goalkeeping department, Kepa appears ready to prioritise regular playing time elsewhere rather than remain in a limited role at the Emirates.
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Loved that we got him as a depth option, but Kepa is too good to be parked on the bench forever. For his own career he should go somewhere he can get regular first team football. Meslier is… fine… as a backup to Raya, who is in his prime and rarely injured. If we can make a profit on Kepa it’s good business to replace him for free and spend the proceeds elsewhere.
Totally baffling and worrying signing of a player, who is an absolute joke of a goalkeeper and will do nothing but harm, if he ever got in the team. Utterly worrying that we are signing a player, who is so poor.
Glass half full, I don’t expect him to get many games at all – Raya is almost always fit, so it’s probably just making up numbers. To be fair, it’s hard to get an elite level backup keeper to warm the bench forever!
What I think this might have to do with is that Setford is an under-21 England international, and is trusted with sometimes starting in the Carabao Cup already. Other clubs will be keeping an eye on him I’m sure. This gives him a clear development opportunity.
I am not referring to Setford, I am referring to the fact this keeper is a joke of a signing. He was awful at Leeds and dropped for a year. There can not be a reasonable explanation for signing him.
The speculation is that Meslier was recommended by the club’s goal-keeping coach. So let’s hope he will brush up the player to the standard expected of a trophy-chasing Arsenal.
Let’s also hope that Raya will continue to maintain his excellent injury profile
The same goalkeeping coach also recommended Runarsson as backup…
Meslier is terrible. He was third choice last season at Leeds!
Correct!!!!!!
It’s no good moaning about the calibre of our back up keeper, we are not going to get a decent keeper who is prepared to be a back up for the whole season so we have to make do with keepers who are not top class or back the young keepers like Setford to be back up.
You can get decent back up.
Marty,
With you’re attitude, we better hope Raya stays available for the whole season.
Stefan Ortega is available on a free, and would be a much better back up to Raya.