Arsenal has almost agreed a bargain agreement for a forgotten Premier League player, but former man utd goalkeeper Ben Foster has questioned their motive for making the switch
A former goalkeeper of the Premier League has questioned the motives of Kepa Arrizabalaga while he looks like a move to Arsenal. Chelsea Shot stopper Kepa is reportedly drawn up to join the Gunners during the summer transfer window in a £ 5 million deal after an impressive loan spell with Bournemouth this season.
The 30-year-old established himself as the first choice of the Cherries and registered eight clean sheets in 31 performances. However, it is understood that the Spaniard is seen as a surplus of the requirements at Stamford Bridge, so that the road is cleared for a switch to North Londs.
Kepa became the most expensive keeper in history when he signed for Chelsea in 2018 and arrived from Athletic Bilbao for £ 72 million. However, he had difficulty realizing his hefty price tag and lost his place in the team before he was lent to Real Madrid in 2023/24.
Arsenal is supposed to be old admirers of Kepa, but Mikel Arteta already has an established number 1 in David Raya. And ex-manchester United Keeper Ben Foster is of the opinion that he will probably move his countryman.
Foster, who also proved to be for Watford and Wrexham, accused Kepa of being satisfied to become a bench again if he agrees to the Gunners agreement after expressing doubts about his reliability.
“It is crazy about the age of 30, but it is almost as if he has indicated that his match days are over,” he said on his podcast 'Fozcast'. “He is happy to play second violin, where he knows that he will play 10 games per season for the next five years.
“It is a surprising because he has again established himself as a number one, a good-to-go, bona fide Premier League number one starting goalkeeper.
“By drawing for Arsenal, I think he can say to the people around him or to the wider world:” Listen, I'm going there to compete and try to be the number one. ” But I think he knows deep inside why he is going there.
“He is not good enough to be near Raya and I think Arsenal knows that too. They sign a very capable backup goalkeeper, but someone who is probably not reliable at that level.”
Despite his criticism, Foster claimed that the transfer could still be beneficial for both Arsenal and Kepa, who, according to him, could earn a weekly sum of six digits at the Emirates, even as a backup option.
He added: “He will match the style of football where they would like to play the ball a little more from the back. You would imagine that he will still be at £ 100,000 a week, or something. Who are we to judge that?
“If he doesn't have that drive and that will want to be a number a week in, week out in the Premier League, then an honest play for him. It is a nice place to be a number two.”