Matt Turner, Nottingham Forest’s goalkeeper, has gone on record to explain why he made the decision to leave Arsenal and join the recently promoted club.

His account sheds light on his quest for consistent playing time and how that objective proved elusive at Arsenal.

• Matt Turner left Arsenal for Nottingham Forest to seek more playing time, a decision influenced by his inability to displace Aaron Ramsdale.
• Turner acted promptly in the transfer window, understanding that delaying might jeopardise his Premier League future.
• Despite the challenges at Arsenal, Turner holds no grudges and praises Ramsdale for his commitment and skill.

 

Matt Turner joined Arsenal in the summer of 2022, brimming with optimism.

Yet, despite his best efforts in training, he found it challenging to displace Arsenal’s first-choice keeper, Aaron Ramsdale.

Frustration began to mount as the window for Premier League transfers drew closer.

Realising that he needed to act swiftly, Turner joined Nottingham Forest for £7 million. He knew that waiting another year might make his quest for Premier League football even more difficult.

In an interview with Goal, Turner shared, “I think towards the end of the season when I felt like there was games that I could have been playing that I wasn’t even getting really a sniff of them.

“I was training really well, doing, I felt like, everything in my power to get myself minutes on the team and that just wasn’t happening for me.

“I knew that if I waited another year, it probably would have been more challenging for me to make a lateral move within the Premier League, so I knew that time was of the essence at that point.

“If I went another season without playing, I would have probably had to take a step back and once you’re out of it, it’s hard to get back into it, especially when you’re not English.

“I’d say that probably towards the the end of the season and credit to Aaron, really, because he brought it every single day. When he had opportunities, when doors were cracked open, he always slammed it back shut.

“I think he’s a really talented goalkeeper, and I think we always pushed each other to get better.”

Only a week after his move, Turner got the chance to face Arsenal as he made his Premier League debut.

It marked the beginning of his journey with Forest, where he aims to cement his position and rekindle his Premier League ambitions.

 “I feel like I’ve adapted pretty well to the move ,” Turner said.

“I’m excited to have had the opportunity to be there and play games and compete. I think it’s easy to get into the mode where you’re comfortable not competing and just collecting your paycheck and showing up for work and I think the reason I fell in love with the game was that competition element of it all.

“Speaking of competition, anywhere you play in the Premier League, it’s the best league in the world and you’re going to have competition for spots and if we want to be the club that we want to be going forward, you’re going to have to have competition all over the pitch every day in training just to combat complacency and everything.

“I’m looking forward to challenges. I’m looking forward to, to fighting and, ultimately, I want to play as many games as possible and keep that feeling going of competing on the pitch.”