Matt Turner’s long-term role with English Premier League giants Arsenal remains unknown, but manager Mikel Arteta has supported his goalkeeper ahead of his second full season in London.
Turner was not part of Arsenal’s 5-0 victory on Wednesday over the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field after the veteran shot-stopper was given an extended holiday this summer. The 29-year-old made seven combined appearances last season for Arsenal, mainly featuring in the UEFA Europa League and FA Cup while Aaron Ramsdale held the No. 1 job.
Turner registered four clean sheets for the Gunners in his club appearances, while also gaining valuable experience alongside many international players. After a busy summer involvement with the U.S. men’s national team in two different competitions, Turner should be ready to go for Arsenal again as the Gunners fight for four trophies this coming season.
“First of all, the same as last year which is a great contribution to the squad and a great contribution to the goalkeeping unit as well because he’s so competitive and keeps everyone at their best level every single day,” Arteta said Wednesday postmatch about Turner. “Then when he played he’s been great with us and with the national team he’s been superb, so I think he’s on a great trajectory.
“Obviously he needed some holiday because it’s been a long, long year for him, I don’t know how many competitions he’s played in, but it was so many and so he needed a break,” he added. “When it’s after his break he will be back with us.”
Turner has solidified his role as the USMNT’s No. 1 goalkeeper, earning 30 caps to date and fighting off competition from Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath. Although Steffen and Horvath both featured heavily in their respective club seasons, Turner has claimed the starting job with the USMNT under Gregg Berhalter and continued that under interim coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan.
Turner should have opportunities this season to shine in domestic and European competitions with Arsenal, which shows the depth in the Gunners squad. Whether or not Turner wants to fight for a starting job elsewhere remains to be seen, but Arteta’s support of him is certainly a major confidence boost ahead of the new campaign.
I just don’t see him supplanting Ramsdale unless Ramsdale gets injured. Last year was telling about that. Matt made a couple of ball playing mistakes in the Europa league and was replaced in the next game. Ramsdale has made multiple ball playing mistakes out of the back and has yet to be replaced by Matt.
Firmly believe Matt needs to move on. He has the ability to be a #1 GK for a big team. Kind of surprised Inter Milan haven’t inquired about him.
Arsenal move will be great in hindsight if he uses it as a springboard to a starting opportunity elsewhere. As an end unto itself- well, we already know ad nauseam… of the once great trajectory of Steffen. Please don’t get too comfy-cozy bedded in!
Matt is different from Steffen.
I would not smear the two of them with the same brush.
Matt has clearly improved as a keeper since he moved to Arsenal.
I strongly suspect he knows exactly what he is doing.
Yeah, can see there’s been growth to his game. Agree Turner is a different sort of cat, seems hyper-confident and knows himself and his situation much better than I do. I’m not at all worried at this point, but I’d be concerned if someone were to peek into the future and tell me he’s still riding pine in 2 years….
Hopefully Arteta is a little more generous giving Matt more starts this year- that would go a long way.
rico po,
It’s not all down to Arteta.
I see Matt being content with his role there as long as he’s improving, getting better, having fun, whatever.
And being a backup keeper for your club is not necessarily an impediment to starting for your national team.
But as soon as he hits that point where it’s time for Elvis to leave the building, he’ll know what to do.
I’m not as convinced as you that Ramsdale is invulnerable but even if he is, I would think Turner should have a variety of options.
I will say he’s almost a certain lock #1 for the USMNT for 2026. Barring injury, none of the present candidates have zero chance of catching up with him, if merit has anything to do with the choice. And with Gregg you always have to wonder.
Matt is the one thing none of them are, which is mentally strong and focused. That’s what got him to Arsenal and kept him there.
Once you get past a certain point, goalkeeping is largely between your ears. Which highlights Matt’s one serious flaw, his hair. He needs to increase his quickness by shaving his head. I’m shocked that more has not been made of this serious shortcoming.
I’d start him even if he moved back to MLS in a year or two.
The other keeper candidates are like a lot of the outfield players in our pool, soft and overrated.
Vacqui-
Well, it is definitely is down to Matt to be worthy of getting games. After that, if I had to pick one person who has the most influence over how many games Turner gets, it would have to be Arteta. I don’t doubt Turner can start for our national team while being a backup at Arsenal. In fact- given the current options, I’d say it’s very likely. Certainly who I’d like to see until someone else makes a great leap. Can and should are 2 different things though, it’s for sure not ideal. The National team is certainly important, but it’s far from being the only important aspect of a career. For any player to reach their full potential, get the most out of their career- you have to be if not a starter- at least be playing every week- getting a high amount of minutes regularly. There no way Turner is content remaining a backup over the long term. It’s his career, I respect that the decisions and consequences of them are his own. But frankly, as a fan- I’d be left dissatisfied, wondering what could have been were his career to end in the same situation he is now. Given his disposition and ability, I’d really be shocked if that were to happen. Salud.
“The National team is certainly important, but it’s far from being the only important aspect of a career. For any player to reach their full potential, get the most out of their career- you have to be if not a starter- at least be playing every week- getting a high amount of minutes regularly.”
rico po,
You’re right of course but it’s worth noting that Matt, being a keeper, is pretty young. There is no guarantee but at 29-30 he’s got a good 10 years at a high level left if he can keep it up.
And I’m not the only one who says he’s improved; Matt himself has gone on record as noting how different his time at Arsenal has been from his time in MLS and how much better the training and coaching is at Arsenal.
Matt started late and I get the feeling he still thinks he has a lot yet to learn. I believe he will eventually be a regular starter at some top 5 club somewhere but I don’t think he needs to be in a big rush about it. It sounds like he has a nice life in England and is apparently making good money finally.
Many on SBI seem to think that the USMNT should be a player’s #1 priority. For our guys, the USMNT was vital for a long time because, other than the burning patriotism they all feel, most of them did not have a high club profile and the USMNT provided alternate revenue opportunities.
Today, our guys seem to be doing better with the clubs so this is less of an issue.
If Turner keeps playing this way, he must be doing something right and I don’t really care what he does the rest of the time.