Apart from David Raya’s status as first choice, there is much uncertainty regarding the future of many of Arsenal’s other goalkeepers.
Aaron Ramsdale surely won’t be happy with being second choice, while Karl Hein needs to be playing regularly at some level, whether permanently or on loan.
The same applies to Arthur Okonkwo, who has enjoyed an excellent season in which he has helped Wrexham earn promotion from League Two. The Hale End product sees his Arsenal contract expire at the end of June.
With regards to the academy goalkeepers, there is also a lot of uncertainty. James Hillson has trained with the first-team for the majority of the campaign and a decision surely needs to be made on the 23-year-old’s future this summer. It is possible that he could be promoted to the first-team as third-choice, but it remains to be seen what will happen.
Ovie Ejeheri has been the regular goalkeeper for the U21s this season but he is also in a position where he now needs to be playing senior football.
Hubert Graczyk, meanwhile, has been on the fringes this campaign after returning early from a loan spell at Slough and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if he was to leave permanently.
Noah Cooper has been told that he will be released and has spent time on trial at Newcastle United, while Alexei Rojas will hope to progress to a professional contract.
Brian Okonkwo, the brother of Arthur, has started the last two games for Arsenal U21s after returning from a loan spell at Cheshunt, with schoolboy Khari Ranson having been named on the bench.
Arsenal also have two other talented U16 goalkeepers in Owen Asemota and Jack Porter, both of whom have been capped by England at youth level.
A lot of decisions need to be made regarding the goalkeepers at the club and it is arguable that several signings could be needed across the club in that department.
The Athletic have reported that 18-year-old Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Adam Beaudry will be spending time training with Arsenal and it could well be a busy summer in terms of shot-stoppers leaving and arriving at the club at various levels.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
We manage to develop good GKs but we don’t keep them (some a for good reasons, I don’t know). Szczesny and Martinez have been part of the cream of the crop of goalkeeping in world football.
….some say for good reasons…
Fabianski was a great goal keeper but playing behind the shaky defence that Arsenal had during his time never helped. Plus, the amount of protection the GK get nowadays would have helped him to avoid the Flappyhandsky nickname.
Leno has been great at Fulham too
Did Arthur improve enough at Wrexham to earn the backup keeper slot to Raya? Would be an inexpensive way to fill a need and increase his value by playing in the cups.