Gary Neville has aimed some cutting criticism at former Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner. Arsenal sold Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest in the most recent summer...
Gary Neville has aimed some cutting criticism at former Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Arsenal sold Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest in the most recent summer transfer window, with the shot-stopper signing a four-year contract in a transfer deal worth £7 million.
Turner only spent one season at the Emirates Stadium, and never made a Premier League appearance for the north London club. He was always firmly behind Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal pecking order. Despite this, though, Turner and Ramsdale enjoyed a friendship in the time they both spent on the books at the club.
Turner left Arsenal in search of regular first-team football elsewhere. He has found that with Nottingham Forest, having made 15 top flight appearances for the Midlands outfit so far this season.
However, it has not been entirely plain sailing for the 29-year-old American since his arrival at the City Ground. In fact, in his most recent outing, against Manchester United, Turner almost cost his side vital points.
Matt Turner frailty that was clear at Arsenal raises its head again
With Forest ahead against the Red Devils, Turner’s poor pass led directly to Marcus Rashford’s equalising goal. Fortunately, for the former Arsenal man, he was able to redeem himself with a smart save to deny Christian Eriksen, before Morgan Gibbs-White popped up to restore Forest’s lead and secure all three points.
In any case, Turner did not escape criticism for his blunder. Co-commentating on the match for Sky Sports Premier League (30/12/2023, 19:06), former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said, “I have got no sympathy for him whatsoever. It’s absolutely ridiculous. He is useless with his feet, he has proven it time and time again. He still tries. I mean, the ball is put back to him with a decent pace, just put your feet through it.”
Turner certainly struggled to adapt to Mikel Arteta’s tactics, which require goalkeepers to be able to play the ball out from the back with their feet, in his time at Arsenal. The 37-cap USA international never looked comfortable in this system across his 7 appearances for the club. It was the right decision from the Gunners to let him go when they did, though, it must be questioned why they ever signed him in the first place as it was clear that his profile was unsuitable for the manager’s vision.
Turner’s replacement, David Raya, is far more natural with the ball at his feet, and was able to succeed where the Nottingham Forest man failed, in usurping Ramsdale in the pecking order.