Kepa Arrizabalaga considering Arsenal exit despite Mikel Arteta’s plans

Kepa Arrizabalaga is reportedly considering his future at Arsenal despite Mikel Arteta making it clear that he would like the experienced goalkeeper to remain at the Emirates this season.

The Spain international played a supporting role as Arsenal lifted the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final last term, but limited opportunities have prompted him to think about another move in search of regular first-team football.

While no formal offers have been made, reports in Spain suggest an exit remains a genuine possibility before the transfer window closes.

According to AS, Kepa is weighing up whether to leave Arsenal in pursuit of a club where he can establish himself as the undisputed number one.

The 31-year-old featured in just 12 matches across all competitions last season, playing a little over 1,000 minutes as David Raya remained Arteta's first-choice goalkeeper.

Despite his lack of game time, Kepa is said to be happy in north London and enjoys a strong relationship with both the club and the Arsenal manager. However, the desire to play regularly again is reportedly becoming increasingly important.

The report describes a potential departure as "an idea on his mind", although discussions remain at an early stage.

Any move is unlikely to be straightforward.

Kepa's previous £5 million release clause has expired, meaning any interested club would need to negotiate directly with Arsenal if they decide to pursue the former Chelsea goalkeeper.

Although the Gunners are not believed to be actively looking to sell, they would expect an appropriate transfer fee before allowing him to leave. The club could then enter the market for another goalkeeper despite already adding Ilan Meslier to their squad earlier this summer.

For now, both Arsenal and Kepa are waiting to see whether concrete interest develops following the conclusion of the World Cup.

Kepa has already shown during previous loan spells that he remains capable of performing as a first-choice goalkeeper when given consistent opportunities.

His season at Bournemouth demonstrated he can still operate at a high Premier League level, making it understandable that he would want to return to a starting role rather than continue as a backup.

From Arsenal's perspective, however, retaining an experienced goalkeeper has clear value. Arteta faces another demanding campaign across multiple competitions, and reliable depth in key positions could prove crucial if injuries or fixture congestion become an issue.

Kepa is expected to remain with Arsenal for pre-season while his representatives assess potential opportunities across Europe. If a club can offer him a guaranteed starting role and meet Arsenal's valuation, negotiations could accelerate later in the transfer window. Until then, Arteta is likely to continue planning with the Spaniard as part of his goalkeeping group.

Should Arsenal keep Kepa as valuable competition for David Raya, or is this the right time for the Spaniard to move on and become a first-choice goalkeeper again?