Arsenal: 4 goalkeepers to target in summer transfer window

After the season ended few could have predicted that Arsenal would be facing goalkeeper concerns. Bernd Leno has been a solid performer for the club despite his inability to cut out the errors, while Mat Ryan’s arrival was warmly welcomed.

As it is, neither could be playing for Arsenal next season.

The club won’t have been expecting this, nor the fans. Sure, Leno has come under some serious scrutiny from sections of the fanbase who’ve grown tired of his mistakes, but it wasn’t long ago he was being mentioned among the best in his position in the division.

Unfortunately for goalkeepers, any slip-up can be so detrimental that all the good you may have done in the past – Leno has saved the Gunners’ skin numerous times – can be forgotten. It shouldn’t be forgotten that he was second behind only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Player of the Season in 2019/20.

Arsenal: 4 goalkeepers to target in summer transfer window as backup option if Andre Onana arrives and Bernd Leno leaves

It does look as though his time in north London is coming to an end, however, as Arsenal push through with a deal to sign Andre Onana from Ajax.

Nothing is concluded but the links are strong and the likelihood grows each day, especially now that his 12-month doping ban has been reduced to nine months and he’ll be available to train with his new side from September onwards.

In the backup department, Mat Ryan impressed during his short spell in north London and rarely put a foot (hand?) wrong in his three outings for the club he supports. While a tiny sample size, few would have been disappointed to see him brought back again next season.

The reports suggest a different direction is being pursued, though. The Athletic have repeatedly stated that Arsenal want to sign a young, homegrown goalkeeper who can push for a starting berth (potentially Onana’s spot) at the club and they’re actively pursuing targets.

David Raya was the number one choice but his promotion with Brentford eliminated his exit clause and now that deal has been put to bed. Thus, looking across the country and afar, who else could the Gunners sign to suit their desires?

Here are four options, with stats via fbref.

1. Daniel Bentley – Bristol City

Bristol City’s 2020/21 Player of the Season award was a pleasant way for Daniel Bentley to end a season of club disappointment. The Robins had fallen short of a play-off spot in Bentley’s first campaign with the club two years ago, but struggled hugely last term and eventually finished in a lowly 19th spot.

Considering only two clubs conceded more goals than Bristol City last season and for the 27-year-old to still win the individual gong has to count for something.

Interestingly, Bentley has already been at Arsenal. He was scouted at the age of eight having started out as a centre-back but didn’t stay long at club, being released fairly quickly and moving to Southend. Seven seasons with the Shrimpers came to an end as Brentford paid over £1m to bring him to west London, where he spent another three seasons before being snapped up by Bristol City.

Now being courted by the likes of Southampton, looking across the Championship there are few stellar options who fit the mould of what Arsenal are after. Bentley is not someone to get the pulses racing but he’s proven himself to be a fine shot-stopper and his climb up the divisions following his initial release at Arsenal is commendable.

Still, not going to exactly lift the bar and Onana wouldn’t be trembling in his boots if he joined with him as backup. It’s slim pickings in the second tier.

2. Wojciech Szczesny – Juventus

The popular choice among many supporters would be to bring Wojciech Szczęsny back to Arsenal. An additional allure of him being classed as homegrown adds to the desire.

A lot of the speculation on his future centred around Juventus’ pursuit of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is to leave AC Milan after over 250 appearances for the Italian giants. However, there was a twist in that tale as Paris Saint-Germain moved in and are now expected to complete his signing imminently.

Therefore, the Polish keeper’s future may not be as unclear as previously, but that hasn’t stopped the numerous claims that he’s eyeing a return to north London and Arsenal are keeping tabs.

Off the back of an underpar season in Italy, this is a move the Gunners should not pursue. Beyond his ability and likely high wages, it would constitute another ‘easy’ choice from the club instead of building towards the future.

Since we’re here, statistically his PSxG-GA (post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed) is at -0.08, leaving him in the lowly 34th percentile, while he also isn’t going to arrive to play second fiddle. Arsenal would be wrong to pursue this one.

3. Freddie Woodman – Newcastle

The man most heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer may have jumped ahead of the queue as a result of his own wrongdoings.

Conceding a needless penalty in the Championship play-off final against Brentford set the Bees on their way to an unbelievably comfortable victory, one that eliminated Raya from the Gunners’ possible targets and jumped Freddie Woodman up a notch.

Someone the club have been tracking for years, Woodman was among the options in January as Arsenal scrambled together to bring in a backup stopper, but were unable to lure him away from his loan spell at Swansea in mid-season.

Keeping 20 clean sheets in 42 outings last season, the 24-year-old has since moved back to parent club Newcastle facing an uncertain future. Having stated he’d love to return to south Wales for a third spell (potentially permanent this time) there is nonetheless interest in him from clubs in the top tier.

A keeper who is excellent with his feet and strong in the air, the only obvious downside to him is his penalty box command, which could do with some work. However, he’s highly rated and an exciting prospect who matches the profile Arsenal are after.

4. Sam Johnstone – West Brom

No side conceded more goals than West Brom’s 76 in the Premier League last season, meanwhile no goalkeeper made more saves than Sam Johnstone’s 166. It’s ‘look away now’ numbers if you’re a Baggies fan.

So amid that dreadful campaign, to have Johnstone emerge from it with his head held relatively high deserves a great deal of credit. You don’t get called up to the England national squad for the European Championships unless you’re doing something right.

Well, then again, Jordan Pickford is the number one….so….

But anyway, Arsenal could do much, much worse than bringing Johnstone to the club to be the homegrown option who could challenge for a starting berth. As it is he’s too good to be a number two, but as the speculation suggests, he’d be there to challenge, not sit on his hands.

Clocking up a post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed tally of +0.12 over the past 365 days (positive figures demonstrate an above average ability to stop shots) for a 86th percentile ranking is an an indicator of his level.

With just one year left on his deal at the relegated West Brom, a deal is there to be struck. 28 years old is a good age for a keeper and he’ll come cheap, although Arsenal’s desire for a ‘young’ option may see them rule this one out. Plenty of coaching will be needed in build-up play, too, but that’s scope for development potential.