Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner kept a clean sheet on Tuesday night to become the seventh Arsenal player to qualify for the World Cup knockouts.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Matt Turner of Arsenal celebrates after their side's first goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on October 20, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Matt Turner of Arsenal celebrates after their side’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on October 20, 2022. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Though it went right down to the wire, Matt Turner and the U.S. Men’s National Team overcame Iran to secure second place in their World Cup group on Tuesday with a 1-0 win.

The clean sheet was Turner’s second of the World Cup so far, having also kept one against England. Even in the one game where he conceded, against Wales, it was only to a penalty.

Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, and Ben White weren’t involved in England’s game at the same time, with White ill and Saka rested following his two starts in the previous two games. But England won comfortably to top the group.

As a result, all four Arsenal players progressed from the group to the knockout stages, joining Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli of Brazil and William Saliba of France – as both of their countries qualified after just two games.

There are three remaining Arsenal players looking to qualify for the knockout stages.

Both Switzerland (Granit Xhaka) and Ghana (Thomas Partey) have three points after two games, sitting second in the group and two points ahead of both third and fourth place.

Switzerland need a draw or a win against Serbia, whilst Ghana need a draw or a win against Uruguay. In both cases, a draw might not be enough if the group leader loses, but they’ll hope Brazil and Portugal can get results against Cameroon and South Korea.

fbl eur c3 arsenal bodoe glimt 1
Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka applauds at the end of the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Finally, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Japan have the most difficult route to qualification, despite also sitting second in their group on three points.

Japan require either a win over Spain, or a draw whilst Costa Rica also draws against Germany – which seems unlikely.

There’s an even unlikelier progression scenario where Germany beat Costa Rica by one goal and Japan draw with Spain whilst scoring as many goals as Germany (or more).

For example, if Germany win 1-0, and Japan draw 1-1, both teams will have four points, a goal difference of zero, and three goals scored. In that case, Japan would go through on their head-to-head record.

So there’s plenty more to be sorted out. For now, congratulations to Turner, the only Arsenal player to have made the knockouts having started every game so far!