Arsenal flop Runar Alex Runarsson set for transfer exit

There are some transfers that just don’t work out. Arsenal have signed players with broken backs, 32-year-old Brazilian’s with one foot already in Dubai, midfielders who would argue with their own reflection and goalkeepers who don’t know how to use their hands.

Indeed, Runar Alex Runarsson is the final of those four examples. Matteo Guendouzi was the other one but no bonus points awarded there.

Arsenal have had players throughout their history who have not been at the standard required to be playing once or twice, let alone week in week out. Runarsson arrived on Inaki Cana’s recommendation despite a hugely undesirable track record with Dijon in Ligue 1, yet even the biggest cynics would have been surprised how out of his depth he was.

On the hunt for possibly two goalkeepers this summer window, depending on what happens to Bernd Leno, it’s absolutely certain that at least one will arrive. Runarsson, technically the number two at present with Mat Ryan set to join Real Sociedad, is nowhere near the acceptable level, which nobody is arguing against.

Arsenal flop Runar Alex Runarsson set for summer transfer window exit as Turkish side Altay S.K close in on signing of Icelandic goalkeeper

Expected to leave on loan or possibly permanently, the latter of those options could be played out as Charles Watts has followed up reports from Turkish journalist Ege Engin stating that the Icelandic keeper is imminently joining Altay S.K. in Turkey.

While not yet known whether it is a loan or a permanent deal, it appears to be the latter.

Hoping for Cana to have unearthed a gem of a signing for a meagre £1.5m, it turned out not to be the case. The 26-year-old is at an age where if he’s still making basic errors and looking uncomfortable on the ball and with shots heading in his direction, a somewhat important part of the job, he isn’t going to improve vastly from there.

This deal sets it up wonderfully for Arthur Okonkwo to make an impression in pre-season. Leno will be granted a belated break having been away with Germany at the European Championships, and with Karl Hein not expected to sign a new deal, the exciting young Hale End star who is nearing a new long-term contract will get crucial minutes.

Still possibly leaving on loan this summer, if he doesn’t he will become third choice behind Leno and whoever arrives as the number two.

As it stands, all signs point towards that being Aaron Ramsdale. Sky Sports revealed that Arsenal will make their move once England’s Euro adventure comes to an end, but with Sheffield United holding out for £30m+, hopefully that is a very short conversation.

Best of luck to Runarsson in the mean time, whether a loan or elsewhere, it just wasn’t the right move for him at Arsenal.