Arsenal snubbed £5m player last year, he’s now become an ‘unbelievable’ World Cup hero

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In January last year, Arsenal signed Mat Ryan on loan until the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Gunners needed back-up for Bernd Leno after Runar Alex Runarrson failed to impress at the Emirates Stadium.

Ryan was a popular figure at Arsenal and there was hope that he would be joining permanently.

However, the £5million-rated goalkeeper ended up returning to Brighton before joining Real Sociedad.

Speaking to Fox Sports journalist James Dodd in the summer of 2021, Ryan said his camp did ask about making his loan permanent, but Arsenal weren’t sufficiently keen.

“We enquired but we were told I wasn’t top of their list,” Ryan explained. “We got the impression they were looking for a homegrown keeper.”

Obviously Aaron Ramsdale ended up joining the Gunners that summer, and the rest is history.

Meanwhile, Ryan ended up leaving Sociedad after just one season, linking up with Denmark’s FC Copenhagen.

And he’s not having the best time there either, having dropped to the bench after initially being first-choice.

However, Ryan’s club struggles are in stark comparison to the heroics he’s delivering at international level.

The Australia captain has helped his nation reach the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 2006.

On Wednesday, the Socceroos beat Denmark 1-0 to finish second in Group D, behind France.

Mathew Leckie scored the winner on the hour mark. He capped off a super counter-attack with a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel.

‘Bunch of heroes’

Ryan and his fellow teammates were lauded by Australia legend Craig Foster on SBS, via Optus Sport.

“Wow. That last 30 minutes was just extraordinary,” Foster said.

“That is just a bunch of heroes there. All of them, actually. Graham (Arnold) is at the centre of it, he did an amazing job today (and) in the last couple of games.

“He made all the right decisions against Tunisia and he’s done it again today.

“Him and all of his coaching staff… conferring on what to do in this game, managing the pressure, managing the game as it unfolds is the most difficult thing.

“When he brought on Bailey Wright in the 74th minute and went to a back five was the moment we said ‘ok, this is Australia’s game here’.

“They thought it through. They had the plan for when they were 1-0 up.

“What about Mathew Leckie. If anyone deserves something out of the first three games, to get what was an amazing goal, it was him.

“The amount of work that he and all these heroes got through in these three games is unbelievable.

“It is a beautiful moment for the game. Congratulations to all these guys. Once again, it just proves that you never know when you get to World Cups.

“As long as you’re brave enough, back yourself enough… anything can happen. It is a historic moment. Well done to all of them.”