Could Lucas Nygaard become Arsenal’s future number one keeper?

Late last month Arsenal signed Lucas Nygaard for their youth academy. He looks promising at the moment. Could he stay at Arsenal for the long term?

The goalkeeper was signed from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, where he worked his way up through the ranks and also played a crucial role on the international stage for his country Denmark. He has been selected to play in goal from U-16 level to U-18 level and has been a real leader on the pitch, despite being just 18 years old and captaining Denmark as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Norway in October 2023.

The keeper has been brought in due to a bit of a goalkeeping crisis on the academy side of things at London Colney with Arthur Okonkwo leaving for Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham, where he recently spent a spell on loan. Furthermore, despite signing a new contract, Karl Hein could even leave on loan, meaning someone will need to fill the gloves on a permanent basis, with Nygaard potentially providing the solution to the problem. However, the Gunners have also secured the deal of young English safe hands Tommy Setford from Ajax, who is apparently first choice for the U21s to start with. Our Academy Manager, Per Mertesacker, said: “We welcome Tommy to Arsenal. He is a young keeper with great potential and we look forward to supporting his development over the coming years.

“The first step in Tommy’s development with us will be to integrate into our under-21 youth academy and train regularly with our first group of goalkeepers.”

If (currently reserve) goalie Aaron Ramsdale leaves, Karl Hein will most likely take his position ahead of the two new arrivals, leaving third-choice first-team goalie to either Nygaard or Setford. There is a good chance that Ramsdale will leave, as he was dissatisfied last season when criticised as Arsenal’s main goalkeeper.

Ramsdale said before the European Championship: “No footballer wants to not play. I personally had a tough year not playing and I never want to do that again, it was tough, it was tough.

“But I have an outlet now, I am here now, I have the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest, I have said it before and I will say it again, whether I play one minute or no minutes, it will be the highlight for me, the best day ever.”

Ramsdale has also been linked with a possible move to Premier League clubs Chelsea, Newcastle United and Southampton. They secured promotion to the English top flight at their first attempt in May, beating Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship play-off final.

Does this mean that if Nygaard ultimately stays at the Emirates and continues to improve, he could eventually be trialled as Mikel Arteta’s second choice keeper and possibly first one day? Only time will tell…

Of course, it is still possible that Ramsdale decides to stay….

Liam Harding

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