Chelsea’s Marcus Bettinelli Considered by Arsenal in Summer Goalkeeper Search, But Didn’t Meet Inaki Cana’s Criteria
Arsenal explored the possibility of signing Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli during the summer transfer window but ultimately decided against it, as he did not meet the specifications set by Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach, Inaki Cana.
According to reports from The Athletic, Bettinelli was among several candidates considered, but Cana had a clear vision for the type of goalkeeper Arsenal needed, focusing on other targets like Joan Garcia and Dan Bentley.
However, these moves fell through due to pricing disagreements with their respective clubs.
Despite not landing those preferred targets, Arsenal still managed to secure four goalkeepers during the window.
The most notable acquisition was David Raya, who joined from Brentford on a permanent deal after spending the 2023/24 season on loan with the Gunners.
Additionally, Neto from AFC Bournemouth was brought in on a deadline-day loan to provide backup to Raya. Arsenal also signed two 18-year-old goalkeepers, Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard, with Setford potentially stepping up as the senior third-choice goalkeeper due to the club’s failure to sign an experienced option.
Arsenal’s summer goalkeeping activity was partly driven by the departure of nine goalkeepers, including Aaron Ramsdale, who moved to Southampton, and Karl Hein, who joined Real Valladolid on loan.
The club also saw several academy goalkeepers leave, including Ovie Ejeheri, Arthur Okonkwo, and Hubert Graczyk, who is reportedly joining Manchester United.
In summary, while Arsenal considered Bettinelli as a potential signing, they chose to pursue other options that aligned more closely with their goalkeeping strategy, ultimately leading to a reshuffling of their goalkeeper lineup with new acquisitions and the departure of several players.
Chelsea’s Marcus Bettinelli Considered by Arsenal in Summer Goalkeeper Search, But Didn’t Meet Inaki Cana’s Criteria
