Matt Turner has revealed why he decided to support Arsenal, and recalled when he used to get up early to watch their games.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Matt Turner celebrates after Rob Holding of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their sides second goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and FK Bodo/Glimt at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Matt Turner celebrates after Rob Holding of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and FK Bodo/Glimt at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Matt Turner’s journey into football isn’t exactly a conventional one, as he didn’t even play the game as a child. The goalkeeper took up the sport at the age of 14 to stay in shape, and he picked his favourite professional team a couple of years later.

Having been playing the game for a little while at that point, Turner tuned in to watch the World Cup in 2010. After that, he picked up a copy of FIFA, and that led him to Arsenal.

“I mean, it’s not really the best story ever about supporting Arsenal,” Turner admitted.

“It was after the World Cup in 2010 I bought my first game of FIFA, and when it says – ‘What club do you want to support or select?’ – obviously ‘A’ came up first, and Arsenal was there!

“But also, I made that connection because my sisters both played for a local club team that was called The Arsenal, and so I just made that connection right there and kind of stuck with it.”

Even though his journey to Arsenal fandom was fairly unique, Turner then got into some familiar habits for any international fan of the Gunners.

“Obviously, through the early 2010s, there were some really great times to be an Arsenal fan, and I would get up nice and early, depending on when the kick-off was,” Turner continued.

“The 12.30pm kick-off here was 7.30am [in the US], so anytime Arsenal were playing, I was doing my best to watch. As I got a bit older, I got into the pub culture in New York City, and I have been around the fans for those types of atmospheres as well.”

Arsenal's US goalkeeper Matt Turner (L) saves the ball from Bodo/Glimt's Norwegian forward Runar Espejord during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between FK Bodoe/Glimt and Arsenal FC in Bodo, Norway on October 13, 2022. - Norway OUT (Photo by Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s US goalkeeper Matt Turner (L) saves the ball from Bodo/Glimt’s Norwegian forward Runar Espejord during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between FK Bodoe/Glimt and Arsenal FC in Bodo, Norway on October 13, 2022. (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Turner then turned professional, and he had to focus more on New England Revolution than Arsenal. That is until he joined the Gunners on a playing contract this summer.

From not playing football at all at 13, to an Arsenal fan at 16, to an Arsenal player at 28. It’s quite a story, and let’s hope it has a happy ending.