‘Strong attributes’, ‘very pleased’: Edu raves about 25-year-old Arsenal newcomer

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Arsenal have completed the signing of goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson on a four-year contract.

The Gunners were in need of bringing in competition and cover for first-choice stopper Bernd Leno following Emiliano Martinez’s switch to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.

Runarsson had been linked with Arsenal for a number of weeks and, on Monday, the Gunners confirmed the 25-year-old’s arrival from Dijon, reportedly paying the French side £1.5million for his services.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Alex to our squad,” Arsenal technical director Edu told the official club website.

“We have been monitoring him for some time and from the analysis, he has strong attributes that we look for in a goalkeeper and as a person.”

Mikel Arteta added: “We want to create healthy competition for places and we look forward to seeing Alex bring further depth to the goalkeeping position.”

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Although Runarsson struggled for game time at Dijon last season, making just 11 Ligue 1 appearances, he is highly rated by Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, the two having worked together at Nordsjaelland.

“As soon as he arrived at the club I saw his potential,” Cana is quoted by Nordisk Football as saying in 2017.

“We must not forget that he is (was) only 22 years old (in 2017) and that he still has a lot of room for improvement, he is a goalkeeper who will have a great future.”

Brentford’s David Raya has also been linked with Arsenal but it looks as though the Bees are holding firm on their stopper, so there may yet be other names linked with the Gunners in case Matt Macey goes elsewhere.