Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the free transfer signing of goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has become available after leaving Leeds United. And honestly, as a piece of transfer business, this one is hard to argue with — because the price is about as good as it gets.
Meslier is still only 25, which sometimes gets forgotten given how long he has been around in English football. He made his Leeds debut back in 2020 and quickly became one of the more reliable keepers in the Championship and Premier League, even if his time at Elland Road did get pretty turbulent towards the end as the club bounced between divisions like a very stressed yo-yo.
At his best, Meslier is a genuinely good goalkeeper. He is commanding in the air, decent with his feet which matters a lot in a Mikel Arteta side, and he has the kind of presence between the sticks that makes defenders feel a bit more comfortable. At his worst, he can be a little nervy and has had some high-profile errors over the years. But that is true of almost every keeper who has played behind a struggling back four.
The question at Arsenal is what role he is walking into. David Raya has made the number one shirt very much his own since arriving from Brentford, and it is hard to see Meslier displacing him any time soon. This looks more like Arsenal getting themselves some proper quality cover and competition rather than signalling any kind of change at the top of the pecking order.
From Meslier's point of view, it is a big move. Joining a Champions League club on a free after a difficult spell at Leeds is a solid career reset. Whether he gets regular football is another matter, but being in that environment can only help him develop further.
For Arsenal it is low risk, decent reward. As a Manchester United fan it pains me to say it, but Arteta does seem to know what he is doing in the transfer market. Free transfers for quality players are always worth a look. Let me know your thoughts.