Arsenal new boy insists he will challenge Ramsdale for No. 1 shirt
Matt Turner insists he will challenge Aaron Ramsdale for the No. 1 shirt at Arsenal when he joins up with the squad in the summer.
The American goalkeeper signed for the Gunners earlier this month for an undisclosed fee.
Big Weekend: Leeds v Man Utd, Antonio Conte, Arsenal, Targett
He is widely expected to play second-fiddle to Ramsdale, with German shot-stopper Bernd Leno linked with a move away from the London club.
However, Turner insists he won’t settle for being the second choice under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates.
“When I got my first chance with the national team, it was only as a No. 3,” Turner told the Evening Standard.
“No one ever really took me seriously, so I’m not going over there just to collect a cheque and ride off into the sunset.
“I’m going to push myself, I’m going to push Aaron and continue to help him get better and help myself get better.”
Turner continued: “You dream. You don’t really see a clear path of how it’s going to happen, but you just trust the work and trust your dream every single day, and continue to work hard, be self-aware, know what you need to work on, and listen to your coaches around you.
“I understand that it’s really challenging to get your foot in the door, so it’s really hard to say no to not only the chance to go fulfil a dream, but also to go challenge myself at the highest level and play for one of the biggest, most recognisable brands in the world in Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Bacary Sagna insists it will be hard for Arsenal to sign a player as “complete” as Alexandre Lacazette in the summer transfer window.
The French striker is out of contract at the end of the season and looks set to leave the Gunners on a free transfer.
“It’s hard to find a complete player like him [Lacazette],” Sagna said.
“He likes to drop deeper and be part of the build-up, but he likes to run in front of the goal as well, so he is quite a complete striker. I see him more as a number ten to be honest. He has top quality finishing abilities.”
