Matt Turner throws down the gauntlet to Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s new £5m goalkeeper insists he CAN challenge the in-form star for the No 1 position next season
- Matt Turner insists he won’t just make up the numbers when he joins Arsenal
- The American goalkeeper is set to move to north London for £5m this summer
- He is expected to play second fiddle to in-form star and No 1 Aaron Ramsdale
- However, he believes that he can challenge the £30m signing for a starting spot
Matt Turner believes that he can challenge Aaron Ramsdale for No 1 status at Arsenal after insisting that he is not joining the Gunners simply to make up the numbers.
The goalkeeper, 27, will switch from New England Revolution to north London in the summer after the Premier League side agreed a £5million fee with their MLS counterparts, as well as add-ons and a 10 per cent sell on fee.
Bernd Leno is expected to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, meaning that Turner is likely to fill the void as the club’s No 2 stopper behind Ramsdale.
Matt Turner insists that he is not joining Arsenal simply to make up the numbers next season
The Englishman has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers this season, with a series of impressive displays justifying the former Sheffield United star’s £30m fee.
It will be tough to dislodge Ramsdale from his No 1 post, but Turner is adamant that he will not settle for a place on the bench next season.
‘When I got my first chance with the national team, it was only as a No 3,’ he said via The Evening Standard.
Turner is expected to play second fiddle behind No 1 goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in 2022-23
‘No one ever really took me seriously, so I’m not going over there just to collect a cheque and ride off into the sunset.
‘I’m going to push myself, I’m going to push Aaron and continue to help him get better and help myself get better.’
Turner is not lacking in experience when it comes to challenging big-name goalkeepers. He successfully usurped Manchester City stopper Zak Steffen to the No 1 spot with the US national team.
However, the 27-year-old insists that he has what it takes to secure the starting position
He is under no illusions as to the challenge that lies ahead, but insists he is determined to make the most of his opportunity at Arsenal.
‘You dream. You don’t really see a clear path of how it’s going to happen, but you just trust the work and trust your dream every single day, and continue to work hard, be self-aware, know what you need to work on, and listen to your coaches around you.
‘I understand that it’s really challenging to get your foot in the door, so it’s really hard to say no to not only the chance to go fulfil a dream, but also to go challenge myself at the highest level and play for one of the biggest, most recognisable brands in the world in Arsenal.’
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