Arsenal are reportedly advancing in their efforts to secure Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, with the North London club considering triggering a £5 million release clause in his contract. Kepa, who is in the final year of his Stamford Bridge contract, spent the 2023-2024 season on loan at AFC Bournemouth, where he delivered a series of impressive performances.

During his loan spell, the Spanish international made 33 appearances for Bournemouth, playing a crucial role in helping the Cherries achieve a top-half Premier League finish, their best ever. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has publicly expressed his desire to retain Kepa on a permanent basis. However, Bournemouth now faces significant competition from Arsenal for the goalkeeper's signature, with the Gunners understood to be impressed by Kepa's keenness to join them and compete for a first-team place.

Arsenal's interest in Kepa stems from a broader restructuring of their goalkeeping department. The club is looking to bring in a reliable backup and challenger for David Raya, who is expected to make his move from Brentford permanent following a successful loan campaign at the Emirates. This need has been amplified by Aaron Ramsdale’s £25 million transfer to Southampton last summer and the return of Neto to Bournemouth after his short-term loan spell at Arsenal concluded.

Sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta are prioritizing a permanent goalkeeping signing to provide necessary depth and experience. Kepa, with 11 caps for Spain and over 100 Premier League appearances, is viewed as a cost-effective and seasoned option. His availability at a reduced fee of £5 million is due to a specific clause in his Chelsea contract, which he signed before his loan move to Bournemouth.

While Kepa appears to be a primary target, Arsenal are also keeping other options in mind. The club retains a long-standing interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, who has been a consistent scouting target. Furthermore, Arsenal are evaluating their internal goalkeeping talent. Tommy Setford, who served as third-choice last season, has impressed the coaching staff and is attracting loan interest, although the club is currently not planning to send him out temporarily. Estonian international Karl Hein has also returned from a productive loan spell at Real Valladolid, having signed a new contract with Arsenal before his temporary departure last summer. Hein's role in the upcoming pre-season is yet to be finalized, but the 22-year-old remains highly rated by the club hierarchy.

The potential acquisition of Kepa Arrizabalaga is seen as a significant step for Arsenal as they prepare for a return to Champions League football and another challenge for the Premier League title. Ensuring depth, quality, and consistency in the goalkeeping position is considered critical to their ambitions for the upcoming campaign. The original transfer that brought Kepa to Chelsea from Athletic Club in the summer of 2018 was for a then-world record fee of £71.8 million for a goalkeeper.

As Arsenal progress with the deal, the coming weeks are expected to be pivotal in shaping the club’s goalkeeping setup. Whether they finalize the move for Kepa or pivot to another target, the decision will be crucial for their strategic planning for the season ahead. Kepa's consistent role as Bournemouth's first-choice goalkeeper last season, where he made a significant number of starts (reported as 33 appearances in one account and contributing to 35 starts as per another), further underscores his readiness for Premier League action.