Friedel questions Turner transfer to Arsenal: ‘He’s too good to be on the bench’

Should the 28-year-old have found a team where he could’ve become the starter immediately?

Brad Friedel has questioned whether Matt Turner made the right decision with his transfer to Arsenal, saying the U.S. national team goalkeeper is too good to be sitting on the bench.

Turner joined Arsenal this summer after becoming one of the best goalkeepers in MLS with the New England Revolution and breaking through with the USMNT.

In his first season with the Gunners, Turner has served as the backup to Aaron Ramsdale, so far getting minutes only in the Europa League.

Friedel got a firsthand view of Turner’s rise, as he served as head coach of the Revolution for the 2018 season and half of the 2019 campaign before he was let go.

The 51-year-old, one of the best American goalkeepers ever and a veteran of several Premier League teams, understands how Arsenal was appealing for Turner but isn’t sure if it ultimately will be the best move for his career.

“Time will tell if it’s the right decision. When you’re in the MLS, this is what I’ll say – it’s hard to turn down a club like Arsenal coming in for you. But when you move and you’re as good as Matt Turner, I’d like to think that you would move and you’re being told that you were gonna be the number one which obviously wasn’t the case at Arsenal,” Friedel told Fair Betting Sites.

“Matt’s a heck of a nice guy and a heck of a good goalkeeper. I don’t know what kind of deal they have with Arsenal or what, but I hope if he’s not in the team, or doesn’t look like he’s gonna get near the team, then they would allow him to leave or go on loan. I personally think he’s too good of a goalkeeper to be sitting on the bench.”

Turner has impressed in four Europa League appearances so far but looks likely to be consigned to backup status for the near future in north London, as he continues to battle with Zack Steffen for the starting role with the USMNT.

In September, Turner answered some of the critics of his Arsenal move, saying his game has improved “massively” in north London despite a lack of regular game time.

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