He may have only played six times since his arrival eight months ago, but Matt Turner's passion for Arsenal and the professionalism he offers has been clear for all to see.
Turner finds himself in a very different role compared to the one he had so much success with at New England Revolution, where he claimed the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2021. He is no longer first-choice at club level, which did cast some doubt over whether or not he would secure a starting spot for the national team at the Qatar World Cup and beyond.
However, the 28-year-old has previously confirmed he had received no guarantees over playing time and admitted that his move to Arsenal was a risk he simply had to take. So far though, it's looking like a risk that will pay off despite a lack of minutes.
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A number of shaky moments during pre-season and the Gunners' opening Europa League match versus FC Zurich left fans concerned that Turner was not at the level required to be a solid backup option to Aaron Ramsdale, but after months of hard work in training, his confidence has seemingly grown.
This was most recently noticeable during Arsenal's FA Cup defeat away to Man City, with the USMNT star making some smart saves, commanding his area well and looking much more comfortable when playing out from the back. Having silenced his critics through several convincing performances, there is no doubt that Turner has gained the trust and respect of supporters, which will mean a lot considering he's one of them.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, Turner opened up on his long-standing connection to Arsenal, explaining how he became a fan and touching on the impact of the club's communities over in the States.
"I didn’t really get into football until I was like 15 or 16," he began. "The story goes that I was playing FIFA, and Arsenal are the first team that come up when you play, so I decided to stick with them. But it was deeper than that. Once I started learning about the history, the great goalkeepers that have played here, David Seaman, Jens Lehmann, I don’t know, I felt a connection to the club.
"It’s a very popular club in America as well, and you join these communities where there’s other Arsenal fans and you guys can be happy together, you can suffer together, or whatever it is. And I think that it’s a really special group because no one understands Arsenal supporters like Arsenal supporters!"
At Arsenal this season, Mikel Arteta has managed to foster an environment which has brought about success beyond expectations in the league. They have been able to gain an edge over teams such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea with a seemingly unbreakable team spirit and Turner continued by emphasising the importance of the club's family atmosphere.
In June 2022 he welcomed a son, Easton, with his wife Ashley Herron, an ex-NFL cheerleader and he said that the welcome both had received was part of his gratitude to play for Arsenal.
"To come in from the outside, you think Arsenal is such a big club and I'm just another number, but that's not the case at all when you come here." Turner continued. "Once you step foot through the doors, you realise how close-knit a family everyone is. That's a really good feeling for me, and for my family."
"They look out for my wife and my new son. The way they do that, I'm not sure you can find anywhere else. So I'm super, super happy and grateful to have landed here."
Turner is expected to play a big part in Arsenal's continued search for silverware this season, with his role as cup goalkeeper to be key for their pursuit of Europa League glory. His two clean sheets for the USMNT at the World Cup demonstrate his ability to compete at the highest level and his happiness despite not being first choice exemplifies the positivity at the club at present.
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