Matt Turner couldn’t help but laugh at one Arsenal fan’s reaction to the goalkeeper’s inclusion in the squad against Southampton on Friday night.
Arsenal’s Matt Turner was on the bench for the Gunners against Southampton in the Premier League on Friday night, and Twitter user Arsenal Japan was recording the goalkeeper as the home squad was announced on the loudspeakers.
One supporter nearby was clearly a fan of the United States international, giving a somewhat over-enthusiastic cheer when Turner’s name was read out.
The reaction brought a laugh out of the Gunners keeper, and he and third-choice goalkeeper Karl Hein both looked over to see who was making all the noise.
しばらく試合を観に来ていなかったので日本でリハビリしてたんだと思いますが、今夜の試合は観に来ていました。
(帰国したのではなくボックスから観戦していたのかもしれません)#アーセナル#冨安健洋 #トミー#Arsenal #Tomiyasu pic.twitter.com/ihifiBKBJN— Arsenal Japan (@arsenal_japan) April 21, 2023
Arsenal Japan report that the fan also had the chance to talk to Turner at one stage, and his support certainly seemed to be appreciated.
It’s always difficult to break into the first-choice side when you start as a backup, and Turner has had to settle for just seven appearances in his debut Arsenal campaign so far.
The 28-year-old kept clean sheets in four of those games, two against Bodo/Glimt, one against PSV Eindhoven, and one against Oxford United.
But with Arsenal exiting the cups and the Europa League, it’s unlikely Turner will get too many more chances this season.
On the upside, he’s set for plenty of minutes over the summer, with the United States’ hectic multi-tournament schedule.