Arsenal suffer blow over ‘top target’ as they look to chop flop

Arsenal are prepared to sell summer signing Runar Alex Runarsson if they can find a suitable replacement, according to reports

The Iceland international was signed four months ago to provide cover for Bernd Leno after Emiliano Martinez left the Gunners to join Aston Villa.

Runarsson declared himself “extremely happy” to have joined Arsenal at the time but his time at Arsenal has left Gunners fans unimpressed.

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The 25-year-old has been criticised at times this season with goalkeeper struggling to impress when called upon, making a number of errors in his five appearances.

And now The Sun claims that Arsenal ‘are ready to ditch calamity goalkeeper’ Runarsson but only ‘if they can sign a replacement during the January transfer’ window.

Mikel Arteta, who yesterday admitted he was looking to sign a new goalkeeper in January, is ‘prepared to let him go out on loan to a Championship team to gain more experience of English football’.

Their ‘top target’ to replace Runarsson is said to be Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with the Gunners’ goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana working with him at the Championship club.

The Sun add that a deal for Raya would be ‘unlikely’ after Arsenal reportedly had a £10m bid rejected for him in the summer.

Brentford, who are flying high in the Championship table, will ‘resist all bids’ for a player that has recently signed a new four-year deal at the club.