28-year-old free to leave Arsenal despite pre-season tour inclusion

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Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Runarsson is available this summer and could leave for free despite being included in their pre-season tour.

Alex Runarsson is expected to leave Arsenal permanently this summer but is still in Mikel Arteta’s pre-season plans.

That is according to Football London, who claim that Runarsson is surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.

The Icelandic stopper is free to go this summer and may quite literally leave for free given that he just one year left on his contract.

Runarsson has no future at Arsenal and whilst an exit will likely materialise, Mikel Arteta is taking him to Germany for the Gunners’ pre-season plans.

The reason is just to have another goalkeeper in the mix with Matt Turner still on international duty.

Runarsson may still not get much action though with Aaron Ramsdale, Karl Hein and Arthur Okonkwo all in attendance.

Alex Runarsson must leave Arsenal

Runarsson was a shock signing for Arsenal back in the summer of 2020.

Arsenal paid just £1million to sign Runarsson from French club Dijon, handing him a four-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Runarsson was the choice of goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana having previously worked together at Nordsjaelland.

The idea was for Runarsson to offer competition for Bernd Leno following Emiliano Martinez’s exit.

Runarsson struggled though, dropping an absolute clanger against Manchester City in December 2020.

That ultimately spelled the end for Runarsson as Arsenal moved to take Mat Ryan on loan in the January window of 2021.

Then came Aaron Ramsdale and then Matt Turner, with Runarsson left behind in the Arsenal pecking order.

Runarsson spent the 2021-22 season on loan at OH Leuven in Belgium and then last season on loan with Turkish side Alanyaspor.

The 28-year-old is now back with Arsenal but has no route to playing time under Arteta.

Runarsson’s forgettable time at Arsenal is coming to an end whether he goes to Germany or not, and a free or nominal exit may be on the cards.