{"id":1248306,"date":"2022-02-22T12:48:31","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T12:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1248306"},"modified":"2022-02-22T12:54:04","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T12:54:04","slug":"matt-turner-arsenal-brad-friedel-aaron-ramsdale","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/matt-turner-arsenal-brad-friedel-aaron-ramsdale\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad Friedel backs Matt Turner\u2019s claim that he can challenge Aaron Ramsdale for Arsenal\u2019s No. 1 shirt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Goalkeeping legend Brad Friedel believes compatriot Matt Turner has the quality to “put pressure” on Aaron Ramsdale and challenge him for Arsenal\u2019s No. 1 shirt when he officially joins the club in the summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 12-capped USMNT international completed a transfer to the north London club earlier this month for an undisclosed fee from New England Revolution, which will see him link up with his new team-mates at the end of this current Premier League season.<\/p>\n

With the expectation that current back-up ‘keeper Bernd Leno will leave at the end of 2021\/22, Turner will likely be coming in to fill a potential void and offer sturdy competition for a player who has been one of the club’s more influential figures on the pitch this term.<\/p>\n

Ramsdale has seriously impressed between the sticks for Mikel Arteta’s men in his maiden campaign at the Emirates, boasting the second-best save percentage in the Premier League for goalkeepers with appearances in the double figures (78.21% \u2014 behind only Jose Sa, 82%), while keeping the third-most clean sheets (11).<\/p>\n

However, Friedel — who made 450 appearances in the Premier League during his playing career — is someone who knows Turner particularly well, having handed the 27-year-old his MLS debut during his tenure as New England Revolution manager — and he believes his former protege isn’t just joining Arsenal to make up the numbers.<\/p>\n

“Matt is an outstanding shot-stopper,” Friedel told\u00a0Squawka via\u00a0<\/span>bet365<\/a>. “He\u2019ll be able to compete and put pressure on the goalkeepers already at Arsenal, no doubt.<\/p>\n

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“This will be the first time in Matt\u2019s career that he will see, well and truly, what competition for places is like.<\/p>\n

“It will be interesting to see how he copes with it all, but can he challenge? Yes of course, he\u2019s a very good goalkeeper \u2014 but like anyone you have to get used to the pace of the Premier League.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a good move for him because he\u2019s joining Arsenal midway through the MLS season, so he will be fit and get a full pre-season under him to fully acclimatise.”<\/p>\n

Friedel’s assertion comes after the New Jersey-born gloveman insisted last week that he is joining the Gunners to try and displace Ramsdale — and not to just enjoy a cushy sinecure on the sidelines as a back-up goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

“When I got my first chance with the national team, it was only as a No. 3,” Turner said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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