Matt Turner misses Europa League match for Arsenal with groin injury

The USMNT keeper missed a relatively rare chance to start for Arsenal

Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner missed Thursday’s Europa League match against PSV with a groin injury, his coach Mikel Arteta confirmed.

Aaron Ramsdale started the match in the Netherlands, as the Gunners’ normal top-choice keeper made his first European appearance of the season.

The Europa League has been Turner’s only chance to play for Arsenal so far this season. After moving to north London from the New England Revolution in the summer, the U.S. international has served as Ramsdale’s backup in the Premier League.

Turner has impressed in four appearances, with Arteta saying “he was phenomenal in goal” after a clean sheet earlier this month against Bodø/Glimt.

According to The Athletic, Turner’s groin injury isn’t serious and he was held out on Thursday as a precaution.

Still, missing any chance to play will be a blow to Turner, who is locked in a tight competition with Zack Steffen to be the USMNT starter at the World Cup next month.

Steffen continues to start every week for Middlesbrough, giving him an edge in playing time over Turner.

Turner would now appear to only have two chances left to play ahead of the World Cup, provided his injury is not serious: against FC Zurich in the Europa League on November 3, and against Brighton on November 9 in the Carabao Cup.

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