Arsenal coach reveals how Mikel Arteta’s team really feel about Kepa Arrizabalaga transfer switch, ‘everyone…’

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Arsenal unveiled their first signing of the summer by welcoming Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.

Kepa spoke to Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz before making his move to North London official, signing as part of a bargain deal from Chelsea. 

Arsenal will only pay £5m to their London rivals for the Spaniard’s services, which is a phenomenal deal considering that Chelsea paid a world-record £71.6m for Kepa in 2018. 

The goalkeeper’s quality is undeniable, which gives Mikel Arteta a top-class option to compete for the number one spot with David Raya. 

• READ MORE: Kepa Arrizabalaga has a surprising hidden talent that most Arsenal fans would never have even heard of

Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana reacts to Kepa’s transfer

Fans were concerned that complacency had set in for Raya in the latter stages of last season, which is understandable given the lack of competition the Spaniard had. 

Arsenal signed Neto from Bournemouth on a season-long loan, but the Brazilian played only once due to being cup-tied and a significant level below Raya. 

Now, the Gunners’ number one has a worthy competitor to duel with, which only bolsters the Arsenal squad, with those in N5 clearly extremely happy to get the deal over the line. 

Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach, Inaki Cana, reflected what the internal feeling within the club is following Kepa’s transfer, posting a series of images on his official Instagram account. 

“Welcome to your new home. Everyone at the Club is very happy to have you with us. All the best in this new chapter together,” Cana said of Kepa.

Interestingly, the crucial member of Arsenal’s coaching staff included an image of Kepa and Raya hugging at the end of the Gunners’ clash with Bournemouth last season. 

There’s a unity and level of respect at the club between the goalkeepers, which is long overdue after the difficult situation that surrounded Aaron Ramsdale during his final year in North London. 

Kepa will know how working with Cana could benefit him

Cana is overjoyed to welcome Kepa to his goalkeepers’ union, and it’s fair to say that the two-time Champions League winner will feel the same about working with his new coach. 

Last season, Raya publicly sang Cana’s praises in reaction to Arsenal’s draw with Atalanta in the Champions League.

Raya saved a penalty and followed up to deny the rebound, to which he credited Cana when speaking to TNT Sports at full time. 

“I just went to speak to the goalkeeping coach to have more of a sense of where to go and where not to go and what to do and what not to do,” Raya said.

“He helps me a lot in every aspect, so credit to him as well. He does all the work with everything.”

After two years on the move at loan spells with Real Madrid and Bournemouth, Kepa will be delighted to find a place to call home at Arsenal, where he’ll work with some of the very best.