One of the key decisions potentially facing Mikel Arteta heading into the summer transfer window centres around who will be understudy to David Raya should Aaron Ramsdale leave Arsenal this summer.
Newcastle are pushing to sign Ramsdale, who spent the large majority of this past season as backup to David Raya following his surprise loan move to Arsenal.
Raya’s loan move is expected to be converted into a permanent deal this summer; seemingly opening the door for Ramsdale to leave. And with that, Edu and Mikel Arteta face the incredibly challenging task of signing a number two.
They have been linked with a host of names. Arsenal are interested in the likes of Wojciech Szczesny, Jason Steele and Anthony Patterson.
Signing the right understudy for Raya is unlikely to decide whether Arsenal go on and win the title next year, but it is something that the club’s recruitment team will be taking very seriously.
Arsenal should act after goalkeeper’s defeat on Sunday
And perhaps there is another name who should be on their radar after his latest performance on Sunday.
There is no question that Illan Meslier‘s stock has fallen quite considerably since the 2020/21 season when Leeds finished in the top-half of the Premier League table.
At one stage, it looked as though he would be an outside contender to succeed Hugo Lloris as France’s number one. However, the 24-year-old is still awaiting the chance to make his senior debut for Les Bleus.
Arsenal fans know all too well that Meslier has a mistake in him too, after he gifted Eddie Nketiah a goal in 2022.
But after Leeds failed to get promoted on Sunday, it may be the kind of move Arsenal would be wise to consider.
Meslier is already someone with more than 100 Premier League appearances under his belt. He has also kept 51 clean sheets in a Leeds shirt during his career, including 21 this season.
Gamble on Illan Meslier may make sense for Mikel Arteta
He became the youngest goalkeeper in Premier League history to keep 10 clean sheets in 2021.
His distribution has definitely been shaky at times this past season, but his passing can be excellent at its best.
Aaron Ramsdale himself, was amazed by Meslier after Arsenal tore a decimated Leeds side apart in 2021. And he is capable of ‘unbelievable’ saves.
Leeds may not be completely against the idea of selling their £5 million signing as they look to make sure that the books are balanced after missing out on promotion. Ultimately, Meslier is someone who tends to divide opinion amongst the Elland Road fanbase.
It is not a move which would capture the imagination, but Arsenal need to get the balance right between spending enough to get a decent goalkeeper in without impacting what they can invest on other areas of the squad.
Ramsdale was signed off the back of two relegations from the Premier League, while Raya had his own shaky moments in the Championship earlier in his career. Meslier is someone who should still be a couple of years away from approaching the peak of his career.
If Leeds are open to a sale, Arsenal could do a lot worse than pursue a deal for the Frenchman this summer.