Arsenal’s latest summer signing has generated mixed reactions among supporters, with some questioning whether Illan Meslier is the right goalkeeper to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Dan Smith, however, believes the deal makes perfect sense and explains why he sees the Frenchman’s arrival as smart business by Andrea Berta.
Meslier fits exactly what Arsenal need
The Champions’ second signing of the summer – the first being Piero Hincapie on a permanent deal – has divided opinion among the fanbase.
Illan Meslier has joined on a free transfer, although it remains unclear whether he will start the season as second or third choice in the goalkeeping pecking order at the Emirates.
That might depend on whether Kepa is happy to spend another season on the bench, while it’s believed Tommy Setford will head out on loan to continue his development.
The Frenchman once had an excellent reputation, but his career stalled in March 2025 when he was dropped by Leeds United after a run of costly errors.
At 26 years old, he has seemingly given up aspirations of starting every week in favour of the security of being well paid to become, at best, Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper.
Even when we reached the League Cup Final last season, Mikel Arteta resisted playing David Raya because he felt it would have been unfair not to reward the goalkeeper who had played throughout the competition.
While our manager insists he never guarantees anyone minutes, the FA Cup and League Cup still provide an opportunity for the number two goalkeeper to feature.
Kepa made 10 appearances for Arsenal across those competitions last season.
There is also an argument that, in a position where many players don’t peak until their thirties, Meslier could rediscover his confidence under quality coaching.
Smart business from Andrea Berta
Recruiting a goalkeeper who is happy to play understudy is never easy.
You don’t want to spend a huge fee on someone who isn’t going to play very often, but equally you need someone with enough experience and ability to step in if injuries occur.
That usually leaves you looking at three options: an experienced professional, a young prospect, or someone trying to rebuild their reputation.
Meslier comfortably falls into that final category.
Some Gooners may argue that, after the money earned over the last 12 months, Andrea Berta shouldn’t have to worry about finding bargains.
Football is still a business, though.
If you can sign someone with 107 Premier League appearances without paying a transfer fee, that’s a no-brainer.
Especially if Kepa’s release clause is activated, potentially bringing in around £5 million, while also removing his wages from the club’s books.
I’d much rather that money be invested in strengthening other areas of the squad.
So, for me, this really is a no-brainer.
Dan Smith
What do you think, Gooners? Is signing Illan Meslier smart business by Arsenal, or would you have preferred the club to invest in a different backup goalkeeper? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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“There is also an argument that… Meslier could rediscover his confidence under quality coaching.”
Big question mark here. This is a gamble.
It’s true that it’s quite unusual to have two top class goalkeepers at the same time, and therefore Meslier, on paper, is… fine… ticks lots of boxes strictly as a backup (experienced in the EPL, on a free, etc). As I said, on paper.
But he has also been error-prone of late, and in 2025/26 was only trusted as *Leeds third-choice goalkeeper*. Can he genuinely recover enough to be the second-choice goalkeeper for an Arsenal team competing for the EPL and the Champion’s League?
Because Kepa is up for sale, and someone will no doubt go for him. Either Setford is ready to step up, or we’re going to need another acquisition I think.
It’s a no-brainer because he’s cheap as a free-agent player and way taller than Raya
Berta and our GK coaches might hope to convert him into Van der Sar 2.0
He’s got the physical attributes and experience to match Raya’s ball handling and distribution skills
To me, the business of bringing in a back up goalkeeper in the names of Illan Meslier is a fantastic one
Playing for Leeds and playing for Arsenal are two different experiences
First, Meslier has Mikel as his manager, the finest man-manager in modern football.
Second – he will work with Inaki one of the very best GK coaches, just see the transformation of Raya, a decent GK to one of the top three GKs in the world.
Third – he has one of the best defenses in front of him Calaforie, Gabby, Saliba , Timber or Hincapie, Moresca and White as on date. Expect him to settle in properly.
Lets welcome the lad, he cannot be more worse than the Wenger era signings
Wenger as manager made some great signings, the best in our history I would say especially in terms of value
I meant GK signings – Wright, Manninger, Alumnia, Vito Manone, Flappyanski,
Yea Manniger didn’t keep 10 clean sheets in a row .🙄
Lehman did good
If he’s going to the back up keeper to Raya, then it’s a terrible signing imo. There is a much better back up keeper available on a free transfer by the name of Stefan Ortega.
“since March 2025 he was dropped by Leeds United after a run of costly errors”.
Last season 0 games in any competition. Imo Jose Sa of Wolves. Welcome and good luck Meslier. Both him the 2 CBs Saliba and Maghales speak French.
just remember mate he won’t be here to play in Prem
it will either be as number 2 or 3
so maybe the occasional cup tie
if it makes us play Raya not Kepa in a cup final ….. brilliant
You can not say for certain he may not be needed for a prem game? Then will he be a “no brainer”? I think he is more like a head scratcher, than a no brainer.
God forbid if Raya suffers injuries, Meslier takes up the role. Who knows maybe for extended weeks and months. It’s futbol. Then what?
Top level sport is about confidence as well as talent imo
Two goalkeepers spring to mind; Hart and Martinez. Hart was first choice at City and England before Pep dropped him and he lost his confidence completely and never fully recovered. Martinez on the other hand had been at Arsenal for some time and it was only Leno’s injury that propelled him to becoming a number one for club and country by showing he had that self belief
I know Meslier had a terrible spell but maybe the opportunity at Arsenal- and as suggested above, the benefit of elite coaching- may bring him back to his better self
There is no easy answer as flip flopping between goalkeepers undermines the defensive cohesiveness and yet a serious injury with a below par keeper taking to the pitch doesn’t instill me with confidence either.
Hiring a player who is happy to be understudy, is never a good reason to sign anyone. And hiring someone dropped for a year for being poor, is another good reason to avoid like the plague. This signing for a top club like Arsenal is baffling. To say the least. My mates a Leeds fan and he can not stop laughing.
how else do you sign an understudy though ?
Do you think Kepa signed because he thought he be number 1 ?
And did that work out?
depends
if you said to me in 12 months time we will be Champions again I won’t care who our number 2:or 3 keeper is
how else do you buy an understudy unless they are happy about it
But you cared Kepa played in cups and we lost? Hopefully he will never play for us in a meaningful game?
So, you think we’ve to sign someone as good as Raya as backup GK?
No but nobody is saying that?
I am questioning the reasoning for signing him?
He is young, prone to boo boos, lost his place at Leeds and happy to be back up. Is that better than an experienced keeper, who has done it all and can cover for a while, and hasn’t massive question marks over his head. Because he was free, doesn’t make him a bargain. Hopefully IF Kepa leaves, we sign a better keeper. God help us if Meslier ends up no2!!!!
Can he improve though Reggie? Was the environment right where he was? I don’t know; just putting it out there
Improve? I think he needs to improve and some. Improve to what? What level is he likely to improve too? I don’t get improve. I get quality, I get talent, I get potential but improve?
I only asked
SueP, it’s possible that he will improve, but I’m not so sure he will.
You did Sue, and thats my opinion. I just do not get it. 3rd, 4th or 5th choice, I do not get it.
In a post earlier, I compared 2 goalkeepers. One took the opportunity when it eventually came along and the other with a career that dramatically faltered and never fully recovered. Meslier could improve in a different environment to the one he found himself in before. and show he wasn’t a total dummy. I’m not suggesting in the slightest he’s the future, rather with a better environment and coaching, it could pay off in terms of a squad gk and at low cost. Did you know much about Martinez before he came on for the injured Leno? I didn’t
Imo the gap between the goalies shouldn’t be too big (unnarrowable through training) as in Raya and Meslier. With Kepa and Raya it was somehow okay even I assume Raya became too electric every week due to Kepa.
I hope I’m proved wrong but he’s a dreadful signing IMO.
I think is not a bad idea for gooner to sign him. He will pick up since arsenal has a good coaching staff so let give it’s try.
Dreadful signing but if hes 3rd choice, then no matter.
If Kepa is moved on, Yann Sommer and Ortega are available. Sommer has played 3 full seasons with Inter so even still he has quality.
Let us not forget our very first GK signing who was recommended by our GK coach and it was Runarsson.
Yann Sommer and Ortega would both be more confidence inspiring I have to say. But as mentioned above by Shoba, we do have a great goalkeeping coach, so maybe it’s not too big a concern. We shall see.
Like your thoughts Dan
I hope Raya is healthy throughout the season but if we need to start our new signing for him, I hope he does well. If he’s number 2 then he will probably start FA and EL Cup
Anyway welcome to Arsenal
In a lot of cases, the level of one’s quality is determined by their respective environments. Raya when brought in had a few errors in him but was trained into a beast of a GK.
I think Meslier is a decent GK and with advanced levels of training I’m positive will turn up when called upon and on big occasions. Who ever thought our backline (inclusive of Kiwior) could absorb Real Madrid’s fearsome attack when we defeated them on both legs?
This is a gamble that may turn out OK. If Kepa’s release clause is activated people should be even more concerned unless another good GK is coming in.
This is not a “no brainer”. If he remains as third choice then perhaps that would be Ok. However, as back up he would be a significant risk given his history..