Arsenal ace Turner tipped for exit as too good to sit on the bench

Behind the scenes as Arsenal prepare to face Zurich in Europa League

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Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner has been told that he is “too good” to remain as the Gunners’ backup stopper to Aaron Ramsdale, and has been tipped for a move away from the club. The United States international joined up with the team in the summer following a January transfer from MLS club New England Revolution but has only made appearances in the Europa League this season.

He has been an understudy to Ramsdale, though has started four times in Europa and could be in line to start once again against FC Zurich on Thursday. Turner may also be handed another start in the EFL Cup when the Gunners host Brighton in the penultimate fixture before the World Cup.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has claimed that Turner is “too good” to remain as a backup and hopes that he can secure a move away from the Emirates, either on loan or a permanent deal. “Time will tell if it’s the right decision [for Turner to move to Arsenal],” Friedel told FairBettingSites.

“When you’re in the MLS, this is what I’ll say – it’s hard to turn down a club like Arsenal coming in for you, but when you move and you’re as good as Matt Turner, I’d like to think that you would move and you’re being told that you were gonna be the number one which obviously wasn’t the case at Arsenal.

“Matt’s a heck of a nice guy and a heck of a good goalkeeper. I don’t know what kind of deal they have with Arsenal or what, but I hope if he’s not in the team, or doesn’t look like he’s gonna get near the team, then they would allow him to leave or go on loan. I personally think he’s too good of a goalkeeper to be sitting on the bench.”

Turner missed Arsenal’s last Europa League game, a 2-0 defeat to PSV, with a groin injury and remained sidelined for the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest as Estonian Karl Hein was named on the bench for both games. There had been doubts over Turner’s distribution compared to Ramsdale, an area where the goalkeeper admits he is putting in the hours to improve.

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“If you watch me last year, two years ago, you’d say I have improved,” Turner told CBS Sports. “Obviously there’s a learning curve.

“Things happen faster here, players are better, smarter and press with more intensity. There definitely was a curve but it’s an area I’m always improving on, always working on, always striving to get better and better.

“As a goalkeeper you don’t want to take risks but the way we play, that’s the way it goes. The position has evolved. I’m the type of person that has always tried to adapt and improve my game.”

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