Arsenal News: Gunners Complete Signing Of Goalkeeper With 'Strong Attributes'

Arsenal has completed the signing of Runar Alex Runarsson from Ligue 1 club Dijon.

The Gunners are making the most out of the remaining days of the transfer window. On Monday, Sept. 21, Arsenal secured the 25-year-old Icelandic goalkeeper's services via a four-year deal worth around £1.8 million ($2.3 million), The Guardian reported.

In a statement on the club’s official website, Gunners technical director Edu revealed that they had been keeping an eye on Runarsson’s progress long before the signing. According to their analysis, the Iceland international deserves a spot in Arsenal as he has the characteristics and skills they want in a goalkeeper.

“We're very pleased to welcome Alex to our squad. We have been monitoring him for some time and from the analysis, he has strong attributes that we look for in a goalkeeper and as a person,” Arsenal's technical director said.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, on the other hand, hinted at his plans for Runarsson ahead of his first season with the club. The Spanish manager said that aside from intensifying the team’s goalkeeping department, the 25-year-old will contribute to the “healthy competition” within the squad.

"We want to create healthy competition for places and we look forward to seeing Alex bring further depth to the goalkeeping position," Arteta said.

Runarsson told Arsenal's official website that goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana played a key role in his decision to sign with the club. They worked together at FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark and have kept in contact with each other ever since.

“The fact that he is here, it is very important to me that I know somebody here and I know that he knows my qualities, and what I need to improve and what I can bring to the club. I think we will be a very good match, for the second time in my career!” Runarsson said of Cana.

Talking about playing for the club he has been a fan of since childhood, Runarsson said, “I know it is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am ready to do everything I can to get the most amount of minutes as possible.”

Runarsson’s main role for Arsenal is to serve as a backup for Arteta’s first choice, Bernd Leno, following the exit of Emiliano Martinez, who left Gunners for Aston Villa last week, Sky Sports reported.

Runarsson joined Dijon in July 2018, but last season, he only managed to make 13 appearances for the French club in all competitions. Prior to his move to Ligue 1, Runarsson played for FC Nordsjaelland, where he made 62 appearances during a three-year spell.

Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney is another Arsenal defender who is expected to shine this season.

During Saturday's match against West Ham, the 23-year-old joined the team during warm-up but ended up pulling back and missing the game because of muscular discomfort. However, Arteta eased fears over Tierney's injury and said he is just fine.