I watched Arsenal’s ‘next goalkeeper’ against UCL giants and this is what I noticed

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Arsenal have now agreed to sell goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton, and they will need to find a replacement.

The main candidate to replace Ramsdale appears to be Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The 23-year-old, who was a Gold medallist with Spain at the summer Olympics, has agreed personal terms with Arsenal.

Arsenal do face a problem though, as Espanyol are determined to keep the goalkeeper, and may hold out for his full release clause, with manager Manolo Gonzalez highlighting his desire to hold onto Garcia.

Arsenal agreed a fee with Southampton over Ramsdale on Wednesday evening, around the same time that Garcia was preparing for one of the most difficult fixtures in Spanish football, with Espanyol travelling to face Atletico Madrid at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium.

In what was his last game for Espanyol if he is to join Arsenal, Garcia delivered a mixed performance.

• READ MORE: Who is Joan Garcia? Get to know the Arsenal target linked as Aaron Ramsdale transfer replacement

How Arsenal target Joan Garcia performed against Atletico Madrid

Atletico headed into the game as heavy favourites against an Espanyol side who had not scored in La Liga since their promotion back to the top flight, Garcia started between the sticks against a menacing attack containing new big-money signings Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez.

Garcia got off to a great start, making a superb save to deny Alvarez a first goal since his move from Manchester City, and it was clear that Atletico were going to dominate proceedings.

The 23-year-old was unfazed by the intense atmosphere generated by the home crowd, and by half-time he had made four saves, from Alvarez, Sorloth and Samuel Lino.

Espanyol frustrated Atletico Madrid, but the hosts continued to pepper the Espanyol goal with shots, and Garcia held his own. That was until he made what could have been a fatal error.

A low cross came in from the left, and Garcia should have smothered it. However, he spilled it into the path of an Atletico attacker, who found Rodrigo Riqueleme, who punished his mistake and scored. Garcia was then handed a lifeline, as the goal was ruled out for offside.

The Spaniard then stood firm as Espanyol kept a clean sheet in an impressive 0-0 draw, and overall he made seven saves, whilst also starting several counter-attacks as he completed nine long passes.

Joan Garcia is talented but raw, and Arsenal move is questionable

Garcia has only been Espanyol’s first-choice goalkeeper since the second half of last season, and it is clear that there are parts of his game that need refining with more experience.

His fundamental attributes are strong, and statistically, Garcia appears to be a perfect backup to David Raya, given his strengths in aerial cross-claiming.

However, his price tag and experience are a concern. His full release clause is a very high price to pay for a backup goalkeeper, and if he is to join, his development could be stunted by dropping down to the bench.

It seems a big risk, both in terms of harming his long-term development, as well as financially, to invest so much into Garcia as a second-choice goalkeeper, and it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal are prepared to activate his release clause.