Mat Ryan opens up on Arsenal decision not to sign him last summer

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Mat Ryan has told The Athletic that he spoke to Mikel Arteta about a permanent move to Arsenal following his loan spell at the Emirates last season.

Ryan spent the second-half of the previous campaign on loan with Arsenal. It came after he lost his place at Brighton to Robert Sanchez.

He went on to make three appearances for the Gunners. And he managed to win a lot of supporters over during those performances.

It disappointed a number of Arsenal fans when Ryan did not sign permanently. The Australian ended up signing for Real Sociedad.

Obviously, that decision appears to have worked out well for Arsenal. Aaron Ramsdale was brought in instead. And he has gone on to prove to be a revelation in North London.

Interestingly however, that move for Ramsdale may not have happened at all had Arteta got his way at the start of the summer. Ryan shared that the Arsenal boss wanted to keep him as they reflected upon his Arsenal loan spell.

”I had a sit-down with Arteta at the end of the season,” he told The Athletic. “It was all very positive. He said I’d exceeded everyone’s expectations and I gave him quite a lot of headaches in selection.

“His comment to me was, ‘I’m going to speak to the club about trying to sign you permanently.’

“Over the summer, we were waiting. The club never contacted us directly, then it got to the point where I had another offer (from Sociedad). We went back to Arsenal and they just said I wasn’t No 1 on their list. It was being documented that they were looking for a UK-based goalkeeper to fill the spot.”

Arsenal vindicated for holding off on Mat Ryan move

Arsenal fans would have, understandably, been happy had Bernd Leno and Ryan been their two goalkeeper options this season. Leno had been one of the Gunners’ better players in recent years. And Ryan stepped up when needed.

Interestingly, Ryan has referred to himself in the same interview as a ‘world-class’ goalkeeper. He is certainly a very good one.

But ultimately, Arsenal have been vindicated for not signing Ryan. Ramsdale has been one of the best in the Premier League this term. And he could be the Gunners’ number one for a long time to come.