Runar Alex Runarsson seals Arsenal transfer and could make debut against Leicester in Carabao Cup

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

GOALKEEPER Runar Alex Runarsson could make his Arsenal debut this week after his arrival was confirmed.

The Icelandic international spent the weekend at the club's London Colney training base finalising personal terms and the deal has now been finalised.

Runar Alex Runarsson will wear the No.13 jersey

Arsenal agreed a transfer worth £1.5million with Sporting Dijon last week.

Mikel Arteta said: “We want to create healthy competition for places and we look forward to seeing Alex bring further depth to the goalkeeping position.”

He will wear the No.13 shirt.

Arteta has been in the market for a new No2 after allowing Emiliano Martinez join Aston Villa in a £20m deal.

According to Goal, Arteta could throw him in the starting XI against Leicester in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday.

Runarsson has five caps for Iceland and was also part of their 2018 World Cup squad.

Arsenal's goalkeeping coach, Inaki Cana, knows Runarsson well having worked with him at his previous club Nordsjaelland.

Boss Arteta admitted Cana played a huge part in the decision to land the stopper.

He said: "It goes down to what I expect from my staff.

“At the end of the day I bring in staff with very special qualities to add to what we are trying to do, and then I have to give them responsibility because I want them to be accountable for the tasks that I give to them and the clear roles that I have give to them.

“When it comes down to the goalkeeper, he [Cana] has a big say on how we are going to implement our methodology, how we are going to train them, how we are going to train them and how we are going to treat the goalkeeping position in the short term, medium and long term.

“Obviously at the end it will be me who makes the decision, but is very important that the people around me, who have on many occasions a much clearer criteria and specificity than me, that I really listen to them and try to follow what their feelings are.

“I have big faith in Inaki as I do with the rest of the staff that are here."

Technical director Edu said: “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.”