It seems like years since Arsenal could proudly boast a reliable number one that did not regularly release sounds – yes, it seems like years because it is years.
The Argentine international Emiliano Martinez looked like he could be the man to end all this, but for very very unknown reasons he was beaten by Aston Villa and the rather misguided Bernd Leno regained the gloves after recovering from injury.
That decision seems to be one that Mikel Arteta regrets, because a year later he is anxious to address his goalkeeper position by taking in a big money signing. His rumored goal? Sheffield Uniteds Aaron Ramsdale, interesting.
The Blades have hit a huge price tag of over £ 32 million on Ramsdale’s head – perhaps because of their trip to Euro 2020 with England – but it definitely feels like there is better value for money out there.
Ramsdale has endured back-to-back relegations / Gareth Copley / Getty Images
So with this in mind, 90min has inevitably taken on the task of identifying alternative goalkeepers that Arsenal should look for for the same price, or preferably less. Let the search begin …
Sam Johnstone should definitely be on Arsenal’s wish list / Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
It seems completely absurd that Arsenal are targeting Ramsdale when Sam Johnstone is readily available at a much cheaper price.
Both experienced quite similar Premier League promotions last season in that they had to make about 25 saves per game – the only difference being that Johnstone is better than Ramsdale.
West Brom have already accepted that they will lose their number one this summer and given the fact that Johnstone can go too shy at £ 15 million, moving for him seems a bit unclear.
David Raya has excelled since moving to Brentford / Alex Pantling / Getty Images
David Raya has been the head and shoulders of every goalkeeper in the championship for the past two seasons and his form has seen him linked to a number of Premier League clubs.
Funny enough, Arsenal have been one of the sides credited with the strongest interest in Brentford number one, but they seem to have abandoned their quest.
You might think that there is no way that bees would sell such a talented goalkeeper before they started their virgin Premier League season, but their business model suggests otherwise.
Brentford are known for buying players cheaply before selling them for the best dollar, and after signing Raya for just £ 3 million, you can guarantee they will have their chances of finding a replacement if a big money offer came in.
Wojciech Szczesny rumored to be open to returning to north London / Marco Canoniero / Getty Images
We will measure a move back to the Premier League for Wojciech Szczesny whenever we get the chance.
The enigmatic goalkeeper is rumored to be open to the idea of moving back to north London, and since he moved to Juventus in 2017, he developed into one of the finest goalkeepers in Europe.
Szczesny certainly would not be cheap, but with the Polish international now in its 30s and Juve desperately trying to generate money to freshen up their squad, the Gunners could at least ask the question.
Keylor Navas will be second choice at PSG next season / Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images
The future destination of the talented kid Gianluigi Donnarumma was one of the big turning points earlier this summer, and now he has been confirmed as a Paris Saint-Germain player, it’s Arsenal’s time to strike back.
Keylor Navas will almost certainly be used as a back-up next season, and given his enormous talent, it is unlikely he will be willing to settle for the weekends on the replacement bench.
At the age of 34, he is not a spring hen, but he is still of the highest quality and he would at least solve Arsenal’s goalkeeper problems in the coming seasons.
Nick Pope may be tempted to leave Burnley / Visionhaus / Getty Images
Nick Pope is one of those goalkeepers whose name is constantly mentioned when a big club starts looking for a new number one, but still nothing seems to ever be realized.
The Burnley striker is obviously good enough to cut it at the top, and at 29 he knows he will probably have to start looking for a move away if he is to win silver at some point in his career.
Sean Dyche would probably make a tough deal, but if you offered Claret’s £ 30 million for the pope’s services, it’s hard to imagine them rejecting it.
Unai Simon can be the answer to Arsenal goalkeeper / Facundo Arrizabalaga – Pool / Getty Images
Despite the fact that the majority of the football world thought that Unai Simon made his name at Euro 2020, the Spanish goalkeeper has earned a lot of praise during his recent seasons at Athletic Club.
Simon endured something of a horror moment against Croatia at this summer’s European Championships, but he also looked very impressive at times. Age only 24, he still has plenty of time to develop as well.
The Spaniard is not really the finished article but he is an upgrade of Leno and Arsenal can do much, much worse.
