With the January transfer window set to open in five weeks' time, there has been a lot of talk about Aaron Ramsdale's future. However, he might not be the only Arsenal goalkeeper who should be in focus.
At the start of the season, the 25-year-old was viewed by many observers as Mikel Arteta's first choice option in between the sticks. But since the September international break, he's not played a single Premier League and UEFA Champions League fixture with loan signing David Raya establishing himself.
In fact, Ramsdale's only appearances for Arsenal in the past two months have been the Carabao Cup ties against Brentford and West Ham United. He impressed many with his performance in between the posts at the Gtech Community Stadium but on the other hand, he struggled in the 3-1 loss at the London Stadium.
The one issue that has emerged from reduced game time this season is his place in the England squad for Euro 2024 next summer is under threat with Gareth Southgate making it clear his chances of being on the plane to Germany will take a significant hit if he remains second-choice with the Gunners.
"We’re just going to have to see how it is. I had that conversation with him in the last camp," Southgate said at a news conference earlier in the month. "He’s still battling to be the No 1 at Arsenal, and his profile and the way he can use the ball with his feet, we like and think is important.
"But there is a reality as a keeper, if we get to March and he’s six months without playing regularly, then I’m never going to promise things that I couldn’t guarantee delivering. So he knows that, he’s perfectly realistic about that."
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Naturally, there has been talk of Ramsdale leaving Arsenal in January as he searches for regular game time to preserve a spot in the England squad for next summer's major tournament, with London rivals Chelsea mooted as a possible destination.
Speaking of senior goalkeepers at the Emirates Stadium, Karl Hein could find himself in a similar situation to Ramsdale as he's been handed a lifeline of taking part at Euro 2024 with Estonia still in with a chance of qualification despite finishing bottom of their group with a single point.
As Estonia topped their 2022/23 UEFA Nations League group, this along with Czechia and Italy qualifying automatically on Monday night means their play-off spot has been confirmed and they will face either Croatia or Jakub Kiwior's Poland in the semi-final on March 21, 2024.
Of course, Estonia will be massive underdogs to progress but if a massive shock were to take place and they ended up qualifying for Euro 2024 against all the odds then it would be in Hein's best interest to play regularly during the second half of the season to ensure he's in top condition.
Ultimately as the third-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal, the 21-year-old is unlikely to feature much, if at all, between now and March. Whilst this shouldn't harm his chances of a call-up given Estonia's goalkeeping pool isn't as deep as many nations, a loan move might be worth considering just in case the unthinkable happens.
Having said that, the possibility of the Gunners letting one senior goalkeeper, let alone two, leave in the same window does seem unlikely unless sporting director Edu Gaspar is able to bring in a suitable replacement as cover for Raya for the remainder of the campaign.
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