---
title: "Arsenal: Gunners identify Runar Alex Runarsson as possible Emiliano Martinez replacment"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-enter-transfer-talks-runarsson-dijon/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2020-09-14T19:30:41Z"
modified: "2020-09-14T19:30:41Z"
---

# Arsenal: Gunners identify Runar Alex Runarsson as possible Emiliano Martinez replacment

**Arsenal are likely to allow Emiliano Martinez to depart the club as he is close to [completing](https://mundoalbiceleste.com/2020/09/12/arsenal-accept-bid-for-emiliano-martinez-from-aston-villa/#:~:text=Emiliano%20Martinez%20will%20reportedly%20leave,and%20agree%20to%20personal%20terms.) his move to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa on his quest to play football consistently.**

This means the Gunners will need to find another goalkeeper in case something happens to [first choice](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bernd-leno/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/72476/plus/0/saison/2019/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/11) Bernd Leno throughout the season, and this has seen them linked with Runar Alex Runarsson.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

According to [The Telegraph,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/09/13/mike-mcgraths-transfer-notebook-brentford-still-waiting-ghoddos/) the north London side are speaking with French club Dijon over a possible deal for Iceland goalkeeper Runarsson.

He apparently has a very modest asking price of just £1.5m and would only be seen as cover for Leno, who recently [returned to the team](https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/bernd-leno-returns-to-arsenal-training-knee-injury-watch-video-premier-league-fa-cup/article32238533.ece#:~:text=Bernd%20Leno%20returned%20to%20the,recovers%20from%20a%20knee%20injury.&text=Arsenal's%20first%2Dchoice%20shot%2Dstopper,been%20out%20of%20action%20since.) following injury.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Martinez became crucial to the side come the end of last season with some great [saves](https://www.givemesport.com/1583256-emiliano-martinezs-incredible-arsenal-save-vs-liverpool-is-even-better-in-slowmotion) and he [kept](https://www.premierleague.com/players/4245/Emiliano-Mart%C3%ADnez/stats?co=1&se=274) three clean sheets, [conceded](https://www.premierleague.com/players/4245/Emiliano-Mart%C3%ADnez/stats?co=1&se=274) just nine goals and also made 38 saves, helping Arsenal to FA Cup glory along the way.

However, the Gunners are reportedly getting a fee close to [£20m](https://mundoalbiceleste.com/2020/09/12/arsenal-accept-bid-for-emiliano-martinez-from-aston-villa/#:~:text=Emiliano%20Martinez%20will%20reportedly%20leave,and%20agree%20to%20personal%20terms.) for the Argentinian and this must be seen as a tempting offer for someone who Mikel Arteta sees as cover for Leno. Indeed, the German was in the starting line-up for Arsenal’s first game of the new Premier League season against [Fulham last weekend](https://www.sofascore.com/fulham-arsenal/RsT).

Runarsson has made five appearances for his country, per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/runar-alex-runarsson/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/205657), and at club level he has racked up 116 appearances, keeping 19 clean sheets and conceding 196 goals. He is nothing special but it is a signing that makes sense as the club need cover and he should come cheap, so Arsenal could use the rest of the Martinez money on a big signing like [Thomas Partey](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1335117/Arsenal-chief-Edu-transfer-message-Thomas-Partey-Houssem-Aouar).

***Gunners fans, what do you make of Runarsson as a potential successor to Martinez? Comment below with your views!***