Arsenal loanee Alex Runarsson is struggling for game-time since leaving the Premier League outfit with OH Leuven’s coach admitting to Het Nieuwsblad that the goalkeeper ‘expected to play’ more regularly.
After making just six appearances during an error-strewn debut season in North London, Arsenal obviously felt that their Icelandic shot-stopper would be better off spending the 2021/22 campaign re-gaining his confidence away from the Emirates.
Well, that was the plan anyway.
Given that he’s has not played a single minute of league football for OH Leuven thus far – his one and only outing coming against second-tier opposition in the cup – it’s fair to say things are not exactly working out as Arsenal, or Runarsson, had hoped.
Does Alex Runarsson have a future at Arsenal?
“In the beginning there was even the question from Arsenal that he absolutely had to play,” explains coach Marc Brys, explaining why he’s put his faith in Rafael Romo despite a high-profile blunder in Leuven’s 3-1 defeat to RFC Seraing last time out.
“I won’t comment on that (Romo’s mistake). The best goalkeeper plays, and it makes sense that Romo has started the season (as the number one) after his fantastic performance last year.”
Brys has been impressed with Runarsson’s attitude behind the scenes, however, pointing out that the former Dijon and Nordsjaelland man has responded rather impressively to being handed a back-seat role.
“(Runarsson) expected to play. It’s great that he stayed motivated when that didn’t happen,” Brys adds. “He comes from a much bigger club but is clearly willing to commit himself to OHL.
“Alex is an ice-cool bunny who has to rely on his technical ingenuity. (But) Rafa is a pure match winner. You can go to war with him.”
It seems unlikely that Runarsson, who appeared to lose Arteta’s faith during an EFL Cup defeat to Manchester City 11 months ago, will ever feature for Arsenal’s first-team again.
Alongside Bernd Leno and the excellent Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal also have two very exciting young shot-stoppers in the shape of Arthur Okonkwo and Estonia international Karl Hein.
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