It’s in the game! Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner reveals he fell in love with the club when he found them on computer game FIFA as he chases PSV victory and Europa League knockout spot
- Matt Turner has revealed his love for Arsenal started on computer game FIFA
- He said the club were the first team that came up when he loaded up the game
- The 28-year-old goalkeeper joined the Gunners in the summer from the MLS
- Arsenal could seal Europa League knockout qualification this Thursday
Goalkeeper Matt Turner has revealed his love affair with Arsenal was sparked when he bought the video game FIFA… and they were the first team that appeared on screen.
The America international swapped MLS for the Premier League this summer, joining Mikel Arteta’s side from New England Revolution.
He was already an Arsenal fan, however, having fallen in love with the Gunners as a teenager.
Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner has reveled his love for the club started with a computer game
The American has supported the club that he joined in the summer since he was a teenager
The 28-year-old revealed: ‘After the World Cup in 2010 I bought my first game of FIFA and when it says – ‘What club do you want to support or select?’ – obviously ‘A’ came up first and Arsenal was there! But also I made that connection because my sisters both played for a local club team that was called The Arsenal, and so I just made that connection right there and kind of stuck with it.’
Turner would get up early to watch Arsenal matches and was later sucked into the ‘pub culture’ of football fandom.
‘Obviously through the early 2010s there were some really great times to be an Arsenal fan and I would get up nice and early, depending on when the kick-off was,’ he said.
The 28-year-old has been playing deputy to Aaron Ramsdale since his arrival in North London
His minutes have been restricted to Europa League ties, and he is set to play again this week
‘The 12.30pm kick-off here was 7.30am (in the US), so anytime Arsenal were playing I was doing my best to watch. As I got a bit older I got into the pub culture in New York City and I have been around the fans for those types of atmospheres as well.’
Turner arrived as back-up to Aaron Ramsdale and his chances have so far been limited to the Europa League.
The American is set to start Thursday’s clash with PSV, when Arsenal can secure passage to the knockout stages with a win.
