Not many individuals would find out about Park Ridge in New Jersey in America. A non-descript borough of 9,000 odd folks the place folks won’t be acquainted with the theatre at Emirates in London the place over 60,000 folks chant “Arsenal until I die, I’m Arsenal until I die I do know I’m……
However they do know Matt Turner, the native boy who has saved 9 of the 20 penalties he has confronted in his profession.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper from New England Revolution in Main League Soccer (MLS), quantity two within the USMNT group, is rising and rising quick within the folklore of the good American dream. He simply signed for Arsenal to interchange Bernd Leno.
Turner is glad and the way, already signing an Arsenal jersey after the USA victory over El Salvador.
MATT TURNER SIGNING AN ARSENAL JERSEY AFTER THE USMNT WIN ? pic.twitter.com/qkwBw5vqUF
— USMNT Solely (@usmntonly) January 28, 2022
Turner, who has been hailed because the MLS’ finest and most in-form goalkeeper, is slated to observe within the footsteps of United States nationwide group No. 1 goalkeeper Zack Steffen. The latter took the flight throughout the Atlantic to affix Manchester Metropolis.
Stats
Standing at 1.9 metres tall, Matt Turner grabbed the eys within the 2018 MLS season the place he recorded six clear sheets. And all through his profession, he has proved repeatedly that he’s a superb shot-stopper.
The subsequent season, he really established himself within the league as he made a career-high 87 saves and made seven clear sheets, the eighth highest within the league. Throughout the season, he additionally had a 74.8 per cent saving fee, the third-highest amongst all qualifying goalkeepers. As well as, he additionally was ranked fifth in profitable proportion at .639, and second in saves per 90 minutes at 4.54.
He was additionally the third in relation to the most effective xGA distinction within the league behind Evan Bush and Andre Blake.
His ascendancy continued within the 2020 season as he began 22 matches for the New England Revolutions recording eight wins. The Revolutions conceded 25 objectives throughout their marketing campaign the sixth lowest within the Jap Convention and the ninth-lowest in the whole MLS.
Nonetheless, the membership had some loopholes with the group making 0.78 defensive actions per 90 minutes exterior of their very own penalty are, the sixth highest in the whole MLS.
Turner was additionally anticipated to concede 32.1 objectives however solely conceded 25 objectives really making his rating of precise anticipated objectives allowed 7.1 For his wonderful season, he was rated because the second-best goalkeeper within the MLS behind Andrew Blake.
The breakthrough 2021 season and the outdated goalkeeper syndrome
Ending second within the goalkeeper standings should have motivated Turner to work more durable as a result of his subsequent season would show to be his finest. Within the 2021 season, the goalkeeper made 96 saves, the seventh highest within the league as New England Revolution topped the Jap Convention standings.
Their dominance was such that they completed 19 factors forward of any groups within the Jap convention and 12 factors forward of the second-placed group within the total standings.
And Turner was one of many undisputed stars of this historic achievement for which he was awarded that season’s goalkeeper of the award.
His efficiency additionally drew the eye of United States nationwide group coach Gregg Berhalter who gave the participant his debut.
The goalkeeper can be the nationwide group’s first-choice keeper on the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup the place he saved clear sheets as the USA gained the ultimate by beating 1-0 and Turner being awarded because the match’s finest goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, one side of his sport that he has to enhance if he needs to be the undisputed No. 1 for his nation forward of Zack Stephens is to enhance his on-ball play.
Knowledge from Fbref exhibits that Matt Turner makes an attempt 13.61 passes per 90 minutes which places him solely within the high 34 percentile. Out of those he solely manages to efficiently full 5.96 passes per 90 minutes which remains to be solely finest for a high 30 percentile rating.
The development continues with 20.43 passes tried (high 57 percentile),common go size of 40.5 metres (high 36 percentile) and seven.79 objective kicks (high 53 percentile).
Why Arsenal signed him?
Regardless of his spectacular stats, the choice of him being chosen over Leno because the second-choice goalkeeper is shocking. Turner has spectacular numbers however they’re within the MLS and a swap to the Premier League is a big step as it’s the pinnacle of soccer.
Nonetheless, if the current few years are something to go by, then gamers from MLS have proven that they will combine it up with the most effective in enterprise (Christian Pulisic and Alphonso Davies are two of many examples).
And regardless of an enormous rise in expertise within the MLS, the goalkeeper is a place the place a real star has not but been born, And even Turner is anticipated to play second fiddle to Aaron Ramsdale until accidents dictate in any other case..
Nonetheless, Matt Turner has come from becoming a member of the New England Revolution as an undrafted participant to being named the most effective goalkeeper within the league in 5 years.
So, he has the boldness and the need of a top-level athlete. Whether or not his expertise will be capable of again it up on the English soil stays to be seen.
As an Arsenal nice Tony Adams as soon as mentioned, “Play for the identify on the entrance of the shirt they usually’ll keep in mind the identify on the again.”