Andriy Lunin had a game to forget at Euro 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Arsenal may be rethinking their transfer plans after watching Andriy Lunin’s ‘woeful’ performance at Euro 2024 for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s players were hoping to pull off an emotional victory over Romania in their Euros opener on Monday, in this their first major tournament game since the war with Russia began three years ago.
But it all went wrong in Munich with goals from Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus giving Romania a surprisingly impressive and crucial three points.
For Lunin, it was a game to forget with the goalkeeper at fault for Stanciu’s stunning opener and he ought to have saved Marin’s goal from long-range.
This was all the more surprising given that the Ukrainian has been Real Madrid’s No.1 keeper for much of the season, helping the Spanish giants win La Liga and the Champions League, though he was notably dropped for the Wembley final.
In the last few days, the 25-year-old has been linked with Arsenal, with reports claiming that Mikel Arteta’s side have made an approach for the player who has just a year left on his contract.
But following his performance against Romania, Gunners fans are determined to ensure that transfer never happens.
On Twitter, @gunner_thoughts posted: ‘Lunin failing his first Arsenal fan trial? Raya looking pretty good. But hey, we likely will need a backup.’
‘Arsenal wanted to sign Lunin. Rather have Onana than this guy,’ @Chimzytv2 said.
@valazat wrote: ‘Any interest Arsenal had in Lunin should be completely wiped off. I don’t want to hear that again,’ while @BilalArdale added: ‘Yeah scrap those Lunin to Arsenal links, we’ll continue rocking with Raya.’
@HirakRo51542192 joked: ‘Andriy Lunin gets linked to Arsenal and starts performing like Loris Karius,’ and @ZuZnaldum echoed this: ‘Arsenal got linked with Lunin and now he’s turned into Almunia.’
‘Lunin transfer links to arsenal must have heightened the pressure on him to perform today. That’s the only excuse you can give for him, because he’s having a woeful showing so far,’ @ater477 mused.
Following Lunin’s first howler, Ukraine and Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko was the first to console the keeper in a great show of leadership, though some saw the funny side given the transfer links.
Lunin helped Real Madrid win the Champions League this season (Photo: Getty)
‘Zinchenko already doing an Arsenal game meeting with Lunin after conceding,’ @westcarlif joked.
There was sympathy for Lunin of course, with Brentford manager and BBC pundit Thomas Frank saying Ukraine should stick by their keeper: ‘Lunin plays for Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘Mistakes happen. There’s no need to blame him, he will be beating himself up.
‘You’ve got to stick with him, you’ve got to. I would just play the best keeper. If he’s the best keeper, just play him.’
It remains to be seen whether Ukraine boss Serhiy Rebrov sticks or twist with his side set to take on Slovakia in Dusseldorf on Friday.
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