Arsenal are reportedly preparing for the possible departure of a player who arrived at the club just this summer.
The North London side have taken a calculated approach in the market, bringing in Ezri Konsa to bolster their backline, Bruno Guimaraes to strengthen the midfield, and Christos Tzolis to boost the frontline, while pursuing Julian Alvarez as their signature signing of the summer.
However, it is actually between the posts where the Gunners might experience a surprising exit before the transfer window closes.
Arsenal bracing for Marseille bid to sign Illan Meslier
French goalkeeper Illan Meslier became Mikel Arteta’s inaugural acquisition of the transfer window, joining the squad at London Colney to vie with Kepa Arrizabalaga for the secondary keeper role behind David Raya.
As a World Cup winner, Spanish international Raya remains the undisputed primary option in goal for Arsenal, having secured the Premier League Golden Glove award for three consecutive years—and it is understood by FourFourTwo that his position in the starting eleven is just as secure as key players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Nonetheless, changes could occur in the goalkeeper roster, with reporter Santi Aouna stating on X (formerly Twitter) that Marseille have set their sights on Meslier.
According to Aouna, the Ligue 1 outfit “must first reduce their roster size before finalizing any deal,” yet they might still launch a loan bid for the French shot-stopper ahead of next week’s transfer window deadline.
It was generally anticipated that the Gunners would authorize a temporary spell away for 20-year-old Tommy Setford, who acted as Arteta’s third-choice goalkeeper last term. However, this fresh update indicates that the England youth international, who was born in the Netherlands, might remain at the club for another campaign while Meslier departs.
The reigning English top-flight titleholders have experienced significant rotation in their goalkeeping options, securing at least one new shot-stopper each year since Arteta was appointed manager.
Back in 2020, FA Cup hero Emiliano Martinez moved to Aston Villa, with Alex Runarsson brought in as his replacement. Runarsson’s position was subsequently upgraded when Mat Ryan arrived on a temporary deal in January, followed by another shift in the summer of 2021 when Aaron Ramsdale was recruited to take over as the first-choice goalkeeper.
In 2022, United States international Matt Turner arrived to take over from the departing Bernd Leno as the deputy to Ramsdale, preceding Raya’s initial loan arrival in 2023, which was made permanent in 2024.
Following Ramsdale’s departure in the summer of 2024, the Gunners secured Neto on a temporary basis from Bournemouth, while Kepa assumed the role of cup goalkeeper after making the switch from Chelsea a year ago.
According to figures from Transfermarkt, Meslier carries a valuation of €8 million. Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to go head-to-head with Aston Villa when the Premier League season resumes next weekend.
