Mikel Arteta and Edu react as Arsenal complete Alex Runarsson transfer
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| Arsenal manager Arteta said: ‘We want to create healthy competition for places |
Mikel Arteta insists he wants Alex Runarsson to create ‘healthy competition’ at Arsenal after the Gunners signed the Iceland goalkeeper on a four-year contract from Dijon.
Runarsson, 25, made 13 appearances for French outfit Dijon last season and has five caps for his country.
He will wear the number 13 shirt at Arsenal and joins Brazilian duo Willian and Gabriel in joining the Gunners this summer.
Arsenal manager Arteta said: ‘We want to create healthy competition for places and we look forward to seeing Alex bring further depth to the goalkeeping position.’
Gunners technical director Edu, meanwhile, added: ‘We’re very pleased to welcome Alex to our squad.
‘We have been monitoring him for some time and from the analysis, he has strong attributes that we look for in a goalkeeper and as a person.’
Following his move to north London, Runarsson said: ‘I would say I’m a modern goalkeeper.
‘It is one of my best attributes that I’m comfortable with my feet, I can play with my right and left foot, I am not afraid to play as a sweeper and I am good one against one.'
‘For goalkeepers, because we play a position where if we make a mistake, most of the time it will lead to [a goal] so you need to have a strong mindset.'
‘You need to have a mindset where you demand the best so you don’t make those mistakes too often.'
‘That’s why you need to work hard, you need to train hard to be able to perform in the matches.’
Bernd Leno remains Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal, with his deputy from last season - Emiliano Martinez - leaving the Emirates last week to join Aston Villa.
Arsenal have taken full points from their first two Premier League matches of the season, beating Fulham and West Ham to climb to the top of the league.