Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal spent £1.5m on Icelandic stopper Runar Alex Runarsson in the summer.
Judging by his performance against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, these doubters were right to scoff at the former Dijon man's arrival.
He made not one, but two glaring errors during his side's 4-1 defeat and the Twitter-sphere was not particularly impressed.
Honestly, though, you cannot even blame Rúnarsson beyond a point. The stats were there for all to see. The club knew what they were getting and still went ahead with it.
— LTArsenal™ (@ltarsenal) December 22, 2020
Runarsson cost Arsenal £1.5m, and it shows.
— Dylan Walsh (@dylanwalsh_) December 22, 2020
Dijon when they found out someone was going to pay them 7 figures to take Runarsson off the books pic.twitter.com/UxpVpwJMzN
— VAR Supremo (@JackBaker1311) December 22, 2020
Runarsson is the worst goalkeeper I’ve seen in my life. And trust me I’ve seen some terrible shit.
— Spanish Gooner (@elspanishgooner) December 22, 2020
Runar Runarsson is the first goalkeeper from a Premier League team to make two errors leading to opposition goals in a single competitive match in 2020/21. [@Squawka] #afc pic.twitter.com/c7I69LAfbn
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) December 22, 2020
Runarsson's nightmarish evening got off to a horrific start when he was at fault for City's first goal inside the opening two minutes.
A mix-up between himself and his defenders afforded Gabriel Jesus with a free header in the box and he made no mistake, nodding into the unguarded net to make it 1-0.
That didn't take long! ⏱
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 22, 2020
Manchester City are ahead within three minutes, as Jesus nods it past Runarsson. This could be a long night for Arsenal.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football ?
Follow online here ? https://t.co/OW4PIL91is pic.twitter.com/kuQm5NIsrc
This mistake wasn't even that bad compared with the second one though.
Just when Arsenal fans did not think could get any worse after watching Gabriel Martinelli hobble off early in the second half, Runarsson let Riyad Mahrez's free kick squirm through his hands like a bar of soap.
It was bad. Really bad.
Still, at least David Seaman was staying positive.
Oh dear, Alex Runarsson. ?#ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/gtWFgufbJr
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 22, 2020
Let’s see how Runarsson reacts to the mistake, he needs to recover, compose himself and move forwards... #COYG #ARSMCI
— David Seaman (@thedavidseaman) December 22, 2020
Runarsson nightmare. 3-1. I feel for him. Blame the club for penny-pinching on our #2 and selling one of the league’s best goalkeepers.
— UberArsenal™ (@UberAFC) December 22, 2020
For sale: Genuine goalkeeper gloves as worn by Runarsson in the Carabao cup match against Man City.#ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/XzJqAzhdjp
— Kalil (@Kalil_R91) December 22, 2020
After Phil Foden had lobbed Runarsson to make it 4-1 and dust had settled on another Arsenal defeat, attention turned to deciding just how bad the keeper's performance had been.
Meanwhile, others were trying to work out exactly who was to blame for this latest Gunners debacle.
Some, on the other hand, were simply longing for the reliable Emiliano Martinez to return...
Replacing Martinez with Runarsson is yet another example of the corner cutting and shite recruitment going at the club atm. He’s not even a youngster, he’s 25 ffs.
— Jaidan (@jaidoocey) December 22, 2020
runarsson makes almunia look like prime casillas
— THE JAN MAN (@LURKDADDY) December 22, 2020
Edu sold Martinez and bought Runarsson. He gave Willian a 3 yr contract. Arteta looking increasingly confused and helpless. It's going to be a long season.
— Lord Aitkins (@LordGooner) December 22, 2020
Personally think selling Martinez was justifiable given the £20m fee for a player who it was decided was not going to be No1 (and had never been worth more). But replacing him with the second-choice goalkeeper at a team that finished last season 16th in Ligue 1 seems, well, odd.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 22, 2020
The downgrade from Runarsson to Martinez made clear tonight.
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) December 22, 2020
I am pretty sure this Runarsson performance is the worst I have ever seen from an Arsenal player. Trumps Eboue vs Wigan in 2008.
— Paddy (@PaddyArsenal) December 22, 2020
Arteta saw Runarsson in training and decided Martinez had to go. Madness
— Ayo Ewete (@dukeofaces) December 22, 2020
Source : 90min