Arsenal Closing In On A Deal To Sign Iceland International: A Perfect Signing For Arteta? | OneFootball

According to The Telegraph, as cited by Football.London, Arsenal are closing in on the capture of Runar Alex Runarsson. The club have contacted Dijon over a possible move for the goalkeeper, who has been identified as a perfect replacement for Emiliano Martinez. The Gunners shouldn’t find problems in working out the deal either and a £1.5 million move could be on the cards within the coming days.

Who Is Runar Alex Runarsson?

Runarsson is currently one of the up and coming stars in the Iceland national team. Although he is not a guaranteed starter, the 25-year-old has gained quite a reputation following his move to Dijon back in 2018.

The Reykjavik native has featured in 45 competitive matches for the Ligue 1 outfit, 11 of which came during the 2019/20 campaign.

Although his tally of 17 goals conceded in those 11 matches might seem rather awful, it is fair to consider that Runarsson was averaging almost three saves per game. His save percentage of 63%, however, was indeed below average.

As a result, Runarsson has now found it difficult to overthrow Alfred Gomis as Dijon’s goalkeeper in this new season and things are unlikely to change anytime soon.

What Can He Bring To The Table?

Runarsson is yet to establish himself as a quality goalkeeper in Europe. Unfortunately, his performances on the pitch haven’t been enough to justify his talents, which is rather shameful given the fact that the 25-year-old is indeed a talented goalkeeper.

The Iceland international is primarily known for his lightning-quick reflexes, particularly when it comes to stretching his legs in order to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net. His relatively imposing 1.86m frame makes him intimidating in front of goal while he is also capable of coming out of his line to make crucial clearances.

Should Arsenal Go For Runarsson?

Runarsson might not be one of the most qualified names Arsenal can get their hands on, but given the current financial climate, he is a decent option.

Besides, the 25-year-old is talented enough to take up the role of Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper and the fact that he will always have the opportunity to perform at an international level can only help him gain experience at the highest level of football.

But more importantly, the fee of £1.5 million would make Runarsson quite a cost-effective option in the club’s bid to sign a replacement for Martinez, whose expected £20 million sale to Aston Villa could, in turn, help the Gunners pursue other targets in the market.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored & FBRef