Arsenal-linked ‘top’ international joins Fulham on loan, could feature against Gunners this weekend

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Arsenal appear to have a goalkeeping dilemma on their hands at present, with two top-class stoppers both keen on the Gunners first-team gloves.

While Bernd Leno is currently the number one, Emiliano Martinez impressed in the German’s absence last season and also featured in the Community Shield this term.

The latter has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, who are reportedly looking for a new stopper in the absence of the injured Tom Heaton.

According to an Evening Standard report from earlier in the week, Arsenal were offered Alphonse Areola on loan by Paris Saint-Germain.

The France international – a member of Les Bleus’ 2018 World Cup-winning squad – was mentioned to the Gunners as a possible short-term replacement for Martinez, added the report.

However, this will no longer be the case after fellow London side Fulham announced on Wednesday evening that they’d signed Areola on loan.

The 6ft 5in custodian will remain at Craven Cottage for the duration of the 2020-21 season, with the West Londoners holding an option to make the move permanent.

Areola came through the ranks at PSG and has made 107 senior appearances for the French capital side, keeping an impressive 53 shutouts and conceding just 87 goals.

The 27-year-old also has several other loan spells on his CV, including at fellow French outfits Lens and Bastia, plus Spanish duo Villarreal and Real Madrid.

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Areola is a high-calibre goalkeeper whose career so far has been somewhat baffling, given he is undoubtedly good enough to be a regular first-team starter.

“I was not surprised that Real Madrid signed Areola, there were few better goalkeepers,” Jesus Unanua, his former coach at Villarreal, told Marca last year. “He is top and can prove it.

“Areola is a sponge, he wants to learn everything. What he needs is the continuity that he did not have at PSG.”

With Arsenal travelling to Fulham in their Premier League opener this weekend, a player they were linked with could now be lining up against them.