Several Arsenal players past and present have struggled for their National Teams this summer and exited their respective tournaments.
Leandro Trossard and Jorginho have both exited Euro 2024 after being dropped for Belgium and Italy, whilst USA were also knocked out of the Copa America after losing to Uruguay.
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes are both in the Brazil squad at the tournament, but former Arsenal players Matt Turner and Folarin Balogun, who both left last summer, were starting for USA.
The USMNT needed a win against Uruguay to reach the knockout stages after a shock defeat to Panama, in which Balogun scored a stunning goal, but they fell to a 1-0 defeat, and the Monaco striker was withdrawn with injury, whilst Turner was a cause for concern in goal.
Arsenal flop Matt Turner disappoints as USA eliminated from Copa America
Turner returned to the starting XI after coming off injured against Panama, and whilst he was not to blame for Matthias Olivera’s 66th-minute goal, he did cause a problem for his side.
ESPN gave him a 6/10 rating for his performance, and highlighted how Turner’s poor ability on the ball hindered the USMNT in possession.
“After suffering a leg injury against Panama, Turner’s status was a huge story coming into the game. While his ball distribution was an issue at times, he was perfectly fine in terms of shot stopping and wasn’t at much fault on Uruguay’s goal,” they stated.
Turner departed Arsenal for Nottingham Forest last year, but looks set to move again after a difficult season in the Premier League.
Why Matt Turner could not succeed at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta
Although Turner was a likeable figure at the Emirates, Arsenal fans will not be be surprised to hear about his problems with the USMNT.
Mikel Arteta is insistent that his goalkeepers are strong on the ball and playing out from the back, and brought in David Raya last summer, with Aaron Ramsdale dropping to the bench after Turner left.
Turner struggled on the ball in his limited Arsenal appearances, and he was simply a poor fit for these tactics. Whilst he has occasionally impressed with his shot-stopping, his weakness in distribution meant that he could not be considered a long-term option by Arteta.
