Kepa Arrizabalaga’s Arsenal future is not fully assured as the club consider their back-up goalkeeper options behind David Raya.
The Spain international joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer to give Mikel Arteta an experienced No.2, but he could look for regular football if the right move appears.
FootballTransfers reports that Kepa is open to leaving if a route back to No.1 football emerges, with Arsenal monitoring Illan Meslier as a possible replacement.
Meslier is available after leaving Leeds United this summer. Leeds confirmed that the French goalkeeper would depart when his contract expired at Elland Road.
That gives Andrea Berta a small but important squad decision before the season starts.
Why Kepa’s Role Matters To Arsenal
Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper situation is clear.
Raya remains Arteta’s No.1 after helping the club win the Premier League title. He is trusted in possession, comfortable behind a high line and central to how Arsenal build from the back.
The question is whether Kepa still wants to spend another season behind him.
Arsenal’s announcement when Kepa signed from Chelsea highlighted his experience with Athletic Club, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bournemouth. That CV made him a logical addition as an experienced back-up.
It also explains the complication.
A goalkeeper with that background will naturally want to play, and a second-choice role can be difficult to manage. Arsenal need a No.2 who is good enough to protect the season, but also settled enough to accept long spells out of the side.
Read Arsenal has already covered how Arsenal’s Meslier enquiry emerged as a possible Kepa exit contingency. The next step is deciding whether that contingency needs to become active.
Meslier Would Be A Different Kind Of Bet
Meslier would not be a like-for-like replacement.
He is younger than Kepa, has major senior experience and knows English football, but his recent years at Leeds were not straightforward.
Leeds’ retained list confirmed Meslier’s departure, ending a long spell in which he was part of two promotion-winning squads.
For Arsenal, the appeal is clear enough.
A free-agent goalkeeper with Premier League experience and resale age is worth considering, especially if Kepa pushes for a move.
The risk is just as obvious.
Arteta’s back-up goalkeeper cannot simply be available and affordable. He has to be calm enough on the ball to keep Arsenal’s structure intact and reliable enough to step in without changing the team’s defensive language.
That is where Berta has to avoid a false economy.
If Kepa receives a genuine No.1 offer, Arsenal should not force a reluctant back-up to stay. But they also cannot replace him with a cheaper option unless the profile fits the football.
The cleanest outcome is control: a clear price for Kepa, a replacement lined up early, and no late scramble around a position that can quickly become awkward.
Arsenal have moved beyond emergency recruitment. Even their back-up goalkeeper decision now has to look planned.
