Arsenal Player Who Joined Gunners Last Year Told He Must Leave The Club

Former Tottenham and USA player Brad Friedel has asked Gunners goalkeeper Matt Turner to leave Arsenal in the summer if he isn’t going to be the first choice at the club.

Turner joined Arsenal last summer from Major League Soccer, having spent six years at New England Revolution.

The first-choice goalkeeper for the US national team, Turner played in all four of his nation’s group games at the World Cup. He kept two clean sheets – the first US goalkeeper to do so in the World Cup since 1930.

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One of those shutouts came against England, with Gareth Southgate’s side that day featuring Turner’s club team-mate Bukayo Saka.

But whilst he was impressive in Qatar, Turner is the second-choice goalkeeper behind Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal and is yet to make his Premier League debut.

He did play in the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester City last month, and received praise for his display despite the Gunners losing 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium. He also played the third-round win over Oxford and has made four Europa League appearances this term.

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But Friedel, who played over 450 times in the top flight of English football between 1998 and 2013, believes Turner needs to move on in the upcoming transfer window.

Friedel told the Sporting Post of how impressed he has been with the performances of Manchester City stopper Zack Steffen, who is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough. Steffen is competing with Turner to play for the USMNT.

He added: “I think that Matt, no matter what, even though Arsenal are an incredible club, has to find consistent football somewhere.

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“This season, fine, but if he’s not going to be the number one he has got to go.

“The only issue is that he’s on a long contract and if you’re Arsenal, why would you let him go? You’ve got an incredible goalkeeper, an incredible guy, a great worker, you have one of the best number two’s on the planet.

“I think it’s a tough position. I’d like for the US side of things, for Zack Steffen to be playing, for Ethan Horvath [at Luton] to be playing (which he is) and for Matt Turner to be playing so there is great competition, because that makes everyone better.”