Arsenal News: Mikel Arteta Reveals Transfer Mix Up, Confirms January Move Plan

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the signing of goalkeeper Alex Runarsson in the summer transfer window was not part of the plan.

The Spanish mentor also hinted that the club will look to recruit a new stopper in the ongoing January transfer window.

Bernd Leno remains the Gunners’ primary choice between the sticks, but his deputy Runarsson has not earned Arteta’s trust, especially as clubs generally tend to use back-up goalkeepers in minor competitions.

The Iceland native was given the opportunity during Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, but Runarsson failed to impress.

Arteta indicated that Runarsson was not part of the discussion when the club was looking to recruit a goalkeeper following the sudden departure of Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa in the summer.

“We are assessing what is going to happen with the three positions, the discussion we had in the summer within the club is a little bit different to what actually happened because of the transfer window and the situation that developed with Emi,” Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s game against Crystal Palace on Thursday, as quoted on the club’s official site.

“We didn’t have much time to do what we really wanted to do and we decided to assess the situation in this window which is what we are trying to do and we will make a decision on how we want to move forward in those three positions,” he added.

Leno has already made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, and Arteta is fully aware that he cannot rely on one stopper for the remainder of their games.

The Gunners head coach confirmed that tapping a goalkeeper is among Arsenal’s priorities this window, especially after third-choice goalie Matt Macey was allowed to leave and join Hibernian on a permanent deal.

“We are assessing the situation with the three positions on the goalkeeping area and we will find a different solution, probably in this window,” he added.

Brentford stopper David Raya was high on Arsenal’s recruitment list following Martinez’s departure last summer but were unwilling to match the club’s £10 million ($13.5 million) valuation.

Aston Villa’s Tom Heaton and Manchester United’s Sergio Romero have also been mentioned as potential targets.