Mat Ryan discusses Arsenal and Celtic reports before he joined Real Sociedad

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Mat Ryan has told Australian outlet Sporting News that he did not receive any offers from Celtic or Arsenal before joining Real Sociedad. The Australian goalkeeper left Brighton to join the La Liga side for £1million. Ryan, though, was linked with Celtic and Arsenal – and has commented.

Ryan, 29, spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal after falling out with the management at Brighton. He joined the Gunners, the club he supported as a boy, but only played three times under Mikel Arteta. He returned to Brighton, where he had 12 months left on his contract.

The Scottish Sun say Sociedad paid just £1million to sign Sociedad despite interest from Celtic and his old Australia gaffer Ange Postecoglou. The Standard say he had a chance of staying at Arsenal permanently, but Ryan disagrees. He comments on interest from Celtic, and Arsenal’s stance.

“We got in contact with them (Arsenal) to see what their stance was and they just gave me feedback that I wasn’t top of their list,” Ryan is quoted as saying by SN. “It was never a concrete option, obviously there was a lot of speculation in the media. It never eventuated into anything.”

Arsenal should have gone for Ryan, Celtic have added Hart

For Celtic, bringing in 75-time England international Joe Hart is a similar move to one that would have seen them got Ryan. Hart is believed to have cost £1million, the same fee Ryan cost Sociedad. A leader, a player with lots of caps – 61 for Australia – Ryan is very similar to Hart, only younger.

But for Arsenal, keeping Ryan made sense. Because now, the Gunners are forced to keep Iceland international Alex Runarsson – who has been poor since joining Arsenal. Ryan, a boyhood Arsenal fan, would have been cheap and happy to sit on the bench. A poor Gunners decision.