David Ornstein says Arsenal are still trying to sign La Liga's best-rated performer
Arsenal are still interested in signing a player they came up short for last summer.
Arsenal continue to pursue what they believe would be an ideal number two after failing to land a long-term solution last summer. The Gunners decided to cash in on Aaron Ramsdale last season, leaving no back-up for starting keeper David Raya until late in the summer window.
In the end, AFC Bournemouth’s Neto was signed on a season-long loan deal, with Arsenal opting for a temporary solution after failing to get hold of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
Garcia, who is still only 23 years of age, is undoubtedly Arsenal’s first choice when it comes to signing a long-term number two. The Spaniard has been a starter for Espanyol last season and this, winning promotion with the Catalan club last term, while they are currently 15th and just one point ahead of the drop zone, with La Liga having a thrilling relegation battle this season.
According to WhoScored ratings, Garcia is the number one goalkeeper in La Liga this season based on stoppers who have played 10 or more games. Despite playing for a team that has struggled near the bottom, Garcia has a rating of 6.81, which is better than Rayo Vallecano’s Augusto Batalla with 6.77 and Thibaut Courtois with 6.71.
That might explain why Arsenal want him so much, and Espanyol chief Fran Garagarza has already made it clear that a sale will have to be considered at the right price. He previously told Marca: "All clubs in Spain live by selling. We much more. What is a good sale? There is no reason to be afraid. But then you have to invest. You have to know who will occupy the position of the seller.
"In the final stages of the market we have to ask for the clause, but if a good offer comes before that we will evaluate it. But the important thing is to know what we would do with that money. We have to work on an heir."
Meanwhile, Garcia himself has told Estadio Deportivo: “At the moment I’m not thinking about that [future], but you never know. If it happens, let it happen in the best way. If in the end it turns out that I have to leave, how can I not say goodbye well? Espanyol are the club that has given me everything. If I go through the back door, it wouldn’t go well.”
Garcia transfer latest
Whether Arsenal can get hold of Garcia remains to be seen, and it does seem like the player is conscious of his playing time, something he is not likely to get a lot of if he does join Arsenal, given Arteta loves Raya, who is much more experienced than Garcia.
Still, it seems Arsenal will try their luck this summer. David Ornstein said on a Q&A on The AthleticL “Yes, Arsenal have done a lot of work on Joan Garcia because Mikel Arteta wants him as number two to David Raya and from what we hear Joan Garcia would be open to joining. But I don’t know of anything being closed and until that happens… it’s still open!”
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