New Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner has admitted that he is prepared to play second fiddle to Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.
However, the 27-year-old American goalkeeper said he is also ready to push the 24-year-old English goalkeeper as hard as possible to overtake the England international.
Matt Turner has been at New England Revolution, a Major League Soccer club, since March 3, 2016, on a free transfer from Fairfield Stags. Since he joined the club, he had gone on loan at Richmond between April 2016 and November 2017 before he returned to New England.
Matt Turner joined Arsenal from New England in February 2022 for €6.36 million. His contract with the Major League Soccer club was expected to expire on December 31, 2024, but that has been halted thanks to his deal with Arsenal which will become official on July 1, 2022.
At New England Revolution, Matt Turner made 111 appearances in which he conceded 146 goals and kept 24 clean sheets. While at Richmond Kickers he made 27 appearances in which he conceded 27 goals and kept 7 clean sheets.
The 27-year-old new Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner is going to the Emirates Stadium as a backup star to Ramsdale who has been in a prolific form, especially in the 2021-2022 season.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Matt Turner admitted how good Ramsdale has been at Arsenal but insisted that his goal is to unseat the English goalkeeper.
“I can see why they’d assess it that way. Aaron had an amazing season for Arsenal and played well all year”, Matt Turner said.
“I’d agree with it for now. I’m coming in to push him and become the best goalkeeper I can become, while also making him the best goalkeeper he can become. That’s my goal for it all.”
While revealing the outcome of the conversation he had with the coach of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Matt Turner said: “We’ve talked a little bit. His main message for me was just to focus on what I need to focus on right now, getting through these next few months, staying healthy, staying fit, and getting ready for pre-season and competition.
“The project they have going on there, [I want to be] an important part of the locker room, adding some experience – not a ton of Premier League experience – but national team experience, league experience, and playing games in pressured environments. I’ll be an older head in the locker room, being 28.”
What Matt Turner could bring to Arsenal
Though Matt Turner could spend most of his time on Arsenal’s bench, he has some special abilities that could benefit Mikel Arteta’s team, which are his passing skill and his ability to save penalties.
Our new GK 🧤 pic.twitter.com/Ms8jd3V9kA
— Ahmed (@Ahmed91Gooner) June 2, 2022
Turner told Sky Sports that he has improved his ability to distribute the ball from the back which could help to fast-track an attack and help to maintain possession during games.
He said: “It’s the area of my game that some call a weakness but one where I’ve improved over the past few months. I’m connecting a few more passes, reading the game better, and understanding the way I can hurt teams a lot better.
“We don’t play that [passing] style in New England but when I go with the national team, we do. When I have extended periods with the national team, I read the game better and make more passes.
“I’m excited to be at Arsenal to do that every single day instead of two or three weeks here or there.”
Matt Turner met the media today for one of the final times as a member of the #NERevs pic.twitter.com/dkq6arrNxR
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) June 17, 2022
