Matt Turner arrived at Arsenal in the summer transfer window with much intrigue, as many will not have known what to expect from the shot-stopper.
Indeed, unless you had seen him playing for the New England Revolution, the United States of America National Team, or watched clips of him playing on YouTube, then it would be safe to assume that many of us will not have seen him in action while on the field.
Of course, what we do know is that Turner clearly has the ability, but what can we expect to see from him while he is at Arsenal? In this article, that is exactly what we will try to predict…
Matt Turner at Arsenal: More than a backup?
There is no denying the fact that Turner has been signed as a player to bring in some competition to the goalkeeping department at the Gunners, although there is also equally no doubt that Aaron Ramsdale is the No. 1 and is unlikely to be displaced any time soon.
Nonetheless, added competition is not a bad thing, and it can help to push the English keeper on with his development even further as he continues to impress at the Emirates Stadium. However, it is also impossible to deny that the American was needed at the club, too.
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Bernd Leno had made it abundantly clear that he had wanted to move on before finally securing a move to west London with Fulham, while Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson appears set to leave the club this summer on a loan deal with a departure to Turkey seemingly on the cards after he failed to make an impression in a move that seemed strange at the time.
However, could Turner become a little more than just Ramsdale’s backup? Could he force his way into the team across various different competitions this season given that the Gunners will be involved in numerous tournaments?
Of course, while Mikel Arteta will likely have plans already in place, it is not impossible to see the USMNT goalkeeper be selected in various games where they perhaps feel Ramsdale is better suited to missing out of.
Turner will want some minutes ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Naturally, while Turner will perhaps know that he will have a very difficult challenge in front of him in order to displace Ramsdale from the No. 1 spot at the Emirates Stadium, the American will also know that he will likely have a couple of opportunities to showcase his skills while also getting valuable minutes in the legs in a FIFA World Cup year.
Indeed, there will be many fans of the USMNT that will be hoping he will be able to get some game time during his time in north London with Arsenal, as those in New Jersey may be looking at the sports betting options available to them ahead of the sport’s biggest competition.
Many punters are already able to use NJ betting sites for the local upcoming matches with the National Team and his club also, as there is a range of odds to have been made available, with many perhaps considering the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a potential wagering opportunity involving Turner.
The 28-year-old is one of the most experienced goalkeepers available to the National Team at the moment, having obtained a total of 18 caps so far. Other players to have been called up recently by Greg Berhalter include Sean Johnson (10 caps) and Ethan Horvath (8 caps).
However, in order to keep his place in the squad when there are the likes of Zack Steffan (29 caps) looking to get back into the squad, he will know sitting on the bench may not be enough to secure his place in Qatar.
What competitions could we see Turner in?
As mentioned, Arteta will likely have a plan in place for Turner and the pair will have probably spoken about what that is already. Indeed, it would not be a surprise if we were to see the USMNT keeper get his chances in the cup competitions, including potentially the UEFA Europa League.
Naturally, it will all depend on what the club’s aims are for the season. As we would expect, we want to see the Gunners competing for each and every possible trophy possible, while we want to see Arsenal return to the UEFA Champions League.
Aaron Ramsdale coming into the changing room fuming after his team has won 3-1 because he conceded a goal!! You love to see it!!! Winner!!! pic.twitter.com/gqiVqpMMzG
— Henry (@GunnerHenners) August 10, 2022
Now, Arteta could look to keep Ramsdale available for just the Premier League games in order to give the team the best chance of trying to finish fourth, but he could also look at winning the UEFA Europa League as the other best chance. If he feels that the latter is a better option, then that could potentially reduce the minutes that Turner receives.
We would expect to see him playing in the English cup competitions – the League Cup and FA Cup – as playing the backup goalkeeper seems to be a given that almost all Premier League sides do. However, again, this is far from guaranteed and it will be interesting to see what the manager decides to do when the first game is played, thus it is always wise to keep a lookout for the latest news.
Final Thoughts
So, what can we expect to see from Turner this season while playing for Arsenal? Well, that will all depend on the plans that Arteta has for him, and whether there are any opportunities afforded to the American because of unforeseen circumstances – such as an injury to Ramsdale.
There is every chance that he could be given minutes in the cup competitions, and with a FIFA World Cup on the horizon, he will want to be getting as many as possible in order to secure his place at the world’s biggest tournament in Qatar this winter, especially as there are other talented shot-stoppers that can be called upon.
Nonetheless, the most important thing for Arteta is to pick up wins in every game that they play this season, and if Ramsdale continues to provide performances of the level that he regularly does, it might be a while before we see the 28-year-old take to the pitch in an Arsenal jersey.
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