In a stunning turn of events, Arsenal’s summer signing Kepa Arrizabalaga has been linked with a potential move away from the Emirates Stadium just three months after joining the club from Chelsea. The Spanish goalkeeper, who arrived at Arsenal for a modest £5 million release clause, could be on his way to Serie A side Como, managed by former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa, 30, joined Arsenal following loan spells at Bournemouth and Real Madrid, with the expectation of serving as a reliable backup for first-choice goalkeeper David Raya. He made his debut for the Gunners in a 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Port Vale, where he kept a clean sheet. Despite this promising start, Kepa’s game time is likely to be limited to cup competitions, as Raya remains Mikel Arteta’s undisputed number one.
Reports from Sports Boom, as cited by Football London, indicate that Fabregas is keen to make Kepa the first-choice goalkeeper at Como. The Italian club, currently enjoying a strong start to the Serie A season with seven points from four matches, is reportedly looking to bolster its squad with the experienced Spaniard in January. Como’s ambitious project in Lombardy, which has already seen the arrivals of talents like Alex Valle from Barcelona, Nicolas Kuhn from Celtic, Maximo Perrone from Manchester City, and Jesus Rodriguez from Real Betis, could be a tempting prospect for Kepa.
However, a move so soon after joining Arsenal seems unlikely. Kepa has expressed enthusiasm for Arteta’s vision and his desire to contribute to the club’s pursuit of success. “We’re here to win. I think we have a great team,” Kepa said after his transfer. “I think we have great staff around here, the best facilities, so we have to prepare ourselves for this season and to have success. When I talked with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], they showed me their desire to win. They showed me this ambition, how much they want to improve, how much they want to grow, and I’m really here to help, to push, and to win more.”
Como, under Fabregas’ leadership, has emerged as a surprise contender in Serie A, with aspirations of challenging for European qualification. Their current first-choice goalkeeper, Jean Butez, joined from Royal Antwerp in January, but Fabregas appears to see Kepa as a key piece in his squad’s continued development.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have had a busy summer, with Kepa being one of eight new signings, including standout performers like Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke. While Kepa’s debut showed his quality, his limited opportunities at Arsenal could fuel speculation about his future. For now, though, it seems hard to believe that Kepa would leave the Emirates after just one game, given his commitment to Arteta’s project.
As the January transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on whether Como can convince Kepa to make the surprising switch to Serie A or if the Spaniard will stay and fight for his place at Arsenal.