MATT TURNER should consider leaving Arsenal as he's too good for the bench, according to former Spurs keeper Brad Friedel.
American stopper Turner has impressed in the Europa League but Aaron Ramsdale remains the Gunners' No1 in the Prem.
Now Friedel hopes Arsenal are prepared to let his countryman leave, at least on loan, just months after signing from MLS side New England Revolution.
Turner is competing for the USA first-choice spot at the World Cup with Manchester City's Zach Steffen, who is on loan with Championship side Middlesbrough this season.
And lack of game time might count against Turner, 28.
Friedel won 82 US caps and played a record 310 consecutive Prem games – so few players appear more qualified to talk about Turner's position.
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The former Liverpool and Aston Villa stopper, 51, accepts there's no way Turner could have rejected the Gunners in the summer.
But he told Fair Betting Sites: "Time will tell if it’s the right decision.
"When you’re in the MLS, this is what I’ll say – it’s hard to turn down a club like Arsenal coming in for you.
"But when you move and you’re as good as Matt Turner, I’d like to think that you would move and you’re being told that you were gonna be the number one which obviously wasn’t the case at Arsenal.
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"Matt’s a heck of a nice guy and a heck of a good goalkeeper. I personally think he’s too good of a goalkeeper to be sitting on the bench.
"I don’t know what kind of deal they have with Arsenal or what, but I hope if he’s not in the team, or doesn’t look like he’s gonna get near the team, then they would allow him to leave or go on loan."
Ironically, Ramsdale is likely to be on the bench when Turner's USA team take on England in their group clash in Qatar.
Everton hero Jordan Pickford seems to have the No1 spot for Gareth Southgate's three Lions nailed on ahead of Ramsdale and Nick Pope.
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