Arsenal goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana playing key role in pursuit of new stopper

Simon Collings @sr_collings18 September 2020

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has revealed that goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana is playing a key role in the club’s search for a new goalkeeper.

The Gunners are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper after selling FA Cup hero Emi Martinez to Aston Villa this week for £20million.

Arsenal are close to signing Dijon’s Runar Alex Runarsson for around £1.5m and they are also tracking Brentford’s David Raya.

Both are players who previously worked with Cana and Arteta has confirmed he is leaning on him for suggestions over new recruits.

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“It goes down to what I expect from my staff. At the end of the day I bring in staff with very special qualities to add to what we are trying to do,” said Arteta.

“And then I have to give them responsibility because I want them to be accountable for the tasks that I give to them and the clear roles that I have give to them.

“When it comes down to the goalkeeper, he [Cana] has a big say on how we are going to implement our methodology, how we are going to train them and how we are going to treat the goalkeeping position in the short, medium and long term.

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“Obviously at the end it will be me who makes the decision [as to which goalkeeper we buy]. But is very important that the people around me, who have on many occasions a much clearer criteria and specificity than me, that I really listen to them and try to follow what their feelings are.

“I have big faith in Inaki as I do with the rest of the staff that are here. I will take that into the medical department, with the physios, the kit man, every department that is here.

“They have much more expertise than me. I want to control them, I want to make sure that they share their values and direction we want to take.”