Arsenal are willing to let Runar Alex Runarsson leave the club on loan in the January transfer window, aiming to sign a goalkeeper this month.

The Athletic report that Arsenal are willing to loan Runar Alex Runarsson in the January transfer window, with a number of clubs in the Championship and across Europe interested in taking the goalkeeper until May.

Runarsson was meant to be Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper this season, but after Emi Martinez pushed to leave and the club failed to secure David Raya from Brentford, the 25-year-old was pushed up into the backup spot.

Arsenal will look to sign a permanent number two this window, but if that’s not possible, they’ll try and loan an experienced player until the summer.

Mikel Arteta admitted in his press conference that they’re looking for a ‘different solution’ to their goalkeeping situation before the end of the current window.

“We are assessing the situation with the three positions on the goalkeeping area and we will find a different solution, probably in this window,” Arteta said.

“The discussion we had in the summer within the club are a little bit different to what actually happened because of the transfer window and the situation that developed with Emi.

“We didn’t have much time to do what we really wanted to do and we decided to assess the situation in this window which is what we are trying to do and we will make a decision on how we want to move forward in those three positions.”

Pushed on Runarsson specifically, Arteta responded that “there is nothing there yet”. Perhaps “yet” is the operative word in that sentence.

I don’t think anybody has any real problem with Bernd Leno at Arsenal right now, and perhaps Runarsson could develop with a loan to be in contention for games in the future.

But he looked out of his depth against Manchester City and the club seemingly can’t currently rely on him if Leno picks up an injury or needs a rest. Bringing in an experienced goalkeeper for six months or a long-term permanent backup would be welcome.