Mikel Arteta's mission to have three goalkeepers in his Arsenal squad has continued with the exit of Alex Runarsson.
On Monday evening it was announced via the club's official website that the Iceland international who arrived back in the summer of 2020 is heading out on loan again after spending last season with OH Leuven in Belgium, although this time around he will be playing in Turkey.
"Alex Runarsson has joined Turkish Super Lig side Alanyaspor on a season-long loan," the statement reads. "The 27-year-old goalkeeper joined us in September 2020 from French side Dijon FCO. Everyone at Arsenal wishes Alex all the best this coming season with Alanyaspor."
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Runarsson now becomes the third senior goalkeeper to leave Arsenal this summer with Bernd Leno completing a permanent transfer to Fulham earlier in the month and youngster Arthur Okonkwo receiving a taste of first-team football by joining Crewe Alexandra on a season-long loan.
This leaves Aaron Ramsdale and Matt Turner as the two senior keepers listed on the club's website, but in Mikel Arteta's own words, ideally, he would like another option: "If you can financially afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do, if you ask me what I want it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers," he said.
However, even with the departures of Leno, Okonkwo and Runarsson, it's unlikely that the Gunners will dip back into the transfer market to sign another goalkeeper, instead, the plan will almost certainly be to officially promote youngster Karl Hein to the first-team squad after a few teases over the past year.
Despite the 20-year-old being involved in the 2021/22 first-team squad photocall alongside Leno, Ramsdale and Okonkwo, there was no forthcoming announcement of a call-up, but it would appear that his promotion was quietly confirmed upon participating in the club's media day before the new campaign began.
In fact, the following description as per the club's official website is the clearest indication that Hein will be the third-choice Arsenal goalkeeper this season: "The men's first-team squad took part in a number of photo and video shoots for the official broadcasters, once again dusting off their best poses and smiles for the cameras, with our new signings getting into the swing of things in their new kits."
Handed the number 31 shirt - last worn by Sead Kolasinac - the Estonia international is one step closer to making a breakthrough with the Gunners which has been his aim ever since committing his future last summer: "It means a lot to extend my contract with this big club, a big club in Europe, a massive club with traditions," he told Arsenal Media.
"I'm very happy, very happy. My ambitions are to play for Arsenal ultimately, train hard, keep the progress going and then hopefully get my chance."
Fit again after his loan move to Reading was cut short because of injury during the second half of last season, Hein has already shown for his national team that he has the temperament for senior football even in his tender years and this allows Arsenal to avoid having to spend money on Runarsson's replacement.
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