There has been much speculation that Bernd Leno is considering his Arsenal future after a less than inspiring season with the Gunners. The German has been brilliant at times, but in other games he has been prone to having mix-ups with the defenders while playing out from the back.
Leno was particularly poor and seemed lacking in confidence at the beginning of the season when he had no competition for his place, but the arrival of Mat Ryan from Brighton in January gave him food for thought.
The Australian impressed us all in the few appearances he made, and he recently made it clear that he would be keen on a return to the Emirates when he told FoxSports: “I’ve got full faith in the team around me – my agent, family, friends – that we’re going to get a couple of options hopefully and go about making what’s going to be the best decision for me,”
“Hopefully, Arsenal becomes one of those options as well that we can look at and see what can happen there, but at the minute it’s still quite early. The season’s just finished.
“I’m taking it day by day and seeing where my journey takes me.”
But now today, in a story about Arsenal losing out in the chase for Brentford’s David Raya after their promotion to the top division, the Sun is claiming that a deal has already been done.
The report says:
And with the future of current No 1 Bernd Leno still uncertain, Arsenal’s recruitment team are having to look elsewhere.
Australian international Mat Ryan is set to complete a free transfer from Brighton after a successful six-month loan spell at the Emirates.
But he is only seen as a back-up keeper and Arsenal now bitterly regret selling Emi Martinez to Aston Villa last summer.
Manager Mikel Arteta is keen to get as much of his transfer business wrapped up as quickly as possible to avoid any deadline-day panic.
Now as Ryan is currently in Dubai with Australia, I am finding it hard to believe that a deal has already been agreed, but as the Sun seems so certain, maybe we should be celebrating!
Sign Andre Onana (the Cameroonian international) from Ajax Amsterdam. He’s a regular in great competitions and is available for a very low fee after turning down a contract extension from Ajax Amsterdam
If his appeal is turned down, AFC won’t be able to call
on his services until February of next year. And MA
isn’t interested in signing him to be the back up to
Leno. Arsenal can’t navigate over half of the EPL season
with just Matt Ryan (if he is brought back) and a couple
of untested academy keepers.
You know he was banned for a fairly long period for doping well using a banned substance i know he was going to appeal but I personally haven’t heard anything since does anyone know??as for Matt Ryan the deal makes sense and since there is no need for a medical it could be true the contract/documents could have been already signed who knows??
The hearing takes place tomorrow, Siamois.
Does it ?from what you know any idea of the outcome Sue?by the way there is a rumour in France Lyon féminines want to buy Miedema and are ready to include Parris in the deal as she wants to go back to the UK??
Apparently if he has to sit things out for another seven months, he might only cost a couple of million pounds. If he has his sentence reduced, he’ll still be available for between £6 to 9 million (Edu’s eyes light up 😄) Definitely one to keep an eye on!
Yes, I saw that. The thought of losing Miedema ☹
no top first team gk playing regularly will want to come and sit on the bench at Arsenal
Leno is our best player these last years playing with some of the worst defenders in football ever. Luiz, mustafi etc.
They should do everything they can to keep him
Luiz ?
Cmon mate he was our best defender by his season
This *
When Luiz is your best defender that says something about your defence.. Luiz has always been at the wrong end of jokes for his poor defending.
Mat Ryan would be a top acquisition as Arsenal #2 keeper, with proven EPL first team ability. The money saved in his free transfer, can be allocated by Arsenal to address other deficiencies.
Totally agree Ozzie.
I believe he’d be more than a backup to Leno competition more like!
I don’t disagree, siamois; he is a lot better keeper than some give him credit for.
Class act by Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge Mat Ryan’s contribution to the Club, by releasing him on a free with one year left on his contract.
Can we afford him !
Reggie, if we can’t on a free, then Arsenal is worse off than we think! 🤔
Good one Reggie….we have a nasty habit of paying “free” transfers ridiculously high wages, so maybe we truly can’t afford him…if he’s coming to be the definitive back-up, on the same or similar wages he was making at Brighton, that’s a workable situation, as he’s unquestionably a better option than Runnar…if he’s coming to get a considerable raise and has been given the impression that it would be an open competition, we need to have a quick rethink…if those in charge don’t believe that Leno is clearly ahead of Ryan, Leno needs to be sold immediately and we need to turn our attentions away from Ryan so we can properly focus on pursuing a viable longer term number 1 option…this club simply can’t afford to get our Keeper gig wrong again, especially after what transpired last off-season
Why do people see Ryan as a No. 2? He’s a top top keeper.
From the way I’ve seen them play, Leno looks like the no. 2