‘I’m concerned’: Legend feels 28-year-old may have to leave Arsneal

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USA legend Tony Meola admits he is ‘concerned’ about Matt Turner’s situation at Premier League leaders Arsenal but accepts the Gunners are unlikely to let the goalkeeper leave any time soon, speaking to Soccer America. 

As Meola himself says, ‘why would Arsenal sell him’?

Why, indeed. 28-year-old Turner is still in his first season as a Gunners player, having joined in a £7 million deal from MLS outfit New England Revolution.  

Turner is yet to make his domestic bow under Mikel Arteta, with Aaron Ramsdale firmly established as the Spaniard’s number one between the sticks. But, featuring four times in the Europa League, the New Jersey-born shot-stopper is undoubtedly a vital part of this Arsenal roster, providing high-quality backup even if doubts remain about his distribution. 

Turner played the full 90 minutes in every one of the USA’s games at the Qatar World Cup. But, in an ideal world, Meola would prefer to see the 24-cap international feature more regularly at club level too. 

Should USA international Matt Turner already be considering his future at Arsenal?

“I think Matt Turner has to be up there with the guys whose stock is rising,” says Meola, who earned a century of caps for the USMNT.

“I’m a little bit concerned. Everyone says he’s got to go play somewhere. (People are saying Arsenal) have got to sell him. But, if I’m Arsenal, why would I sell him?

“I think the hardest two things to find in world soccer are a backup goalkeeper and a backup number nine. Because nobody wants to be that. No one wants to be a backup goalkeeper.

“Arsenal must be thinking; I got a good one that we didn’t pay a boatload of money for. Why would I get rid of him?’”

Former USA boss Bruce Arena is one of those campaigning for Turner to leave the Emirates Stadium after just a couple of months, encouraging the former Richmond Kickers loanee to ‘move out of Arsenal’. 

There’s little chance of that, however.

Turner is not the type to shirk a challenge. He will believe, deep down, that he can snatch the number one jersey from Ramsdale’s grasp, having already won over his head coach.

“I’m really happy for him,” Arteta beamed over the summer. “The way he has settled in, he’s an extraordinary character, a lot of personality and he’s great at what we want.”