A fresh start at a new club was supposed to let former Leeds United star Illan Meslier put a difficult spell behind him. Instead, his first competitive appearance has ended in disappointment, with Arsenal suffering a shock cup exit that few would have predicted.
The result was a major shock, and the former White will be particularly frustrated by how the evening unfolded. After months of waiting for his opportunity, he couldn’t make the decisive contribution that might have helped his team avoid an embarrassing defeat.
Worse still, his new club’s situation means another chance to put things right could be some way off.
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Meslier suffers nightmare Arsenal debut
Illan Meslier made his competitive debut for Arsenal on Tuesday night, but it was a miserable occasion as the Premier League champions were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Fleetwood Town.
The Frenchman joined Arsenal on a free transfer last summer after spending the entire previous season out of Leeds’ first team. He would have hoped that moving to a new club would give him a platform to rebuild his career, but his first competitive outing has not gone to plan.
The tie went to a penalty shootout, where Meslier failed to save any of Fleetwood’s five efforts. Fleetwood duly pulled off a major upset, eliminating Arsenal from the competition and handing the goalkeeper a debut he will want to forget.
It would be harsh to place the entire blame for the defeat on Meslier. Penalty shootouts are difficult to predict, and goalkeepers can do little when opponents execute their kicks well. Nevertheless, failing to stop any of the five attempts won’t help his case as he looks to establish himself at the Emirates.
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Two months waiting for another opportunity?
Meslier’s immediate problem is the competition for Arsenal’s number one spot. David Raya remains the undisputed first choice, so the former Leeds goalkeeper is unlikely to get regular Premier League minutes.
With Arsenal now out of the EFL Cup, one potential route to more minutes has disappeared. Unless Raya is rested or unavailable, Meslier could be left waiting until the FA Cup begins in January for another opportunity to feature.
That would mean a frustrating spell on the sidelines just as he needs regular football to rebuild his confidence and reputation. After spending last season out of the Leeds team before leaving Elland Road on a free transfer, another lengthy period without competitive action is hardly ideal.
Meslier still has time to turn things around, and one difficult debut does not define his career. But he needs to make the most of any opportunity that comes his way, particularly when Raya’s position leaves little room for error.
For now, the Frenchman must put the Fleetwood disappointment behind him and wait for his next chance. The concern is that it may not arrive for several weeks.
