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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Arsenal tried to sign Spaniard</li><li>Ended up staying at Espanyol </li><li>Says he 'couldn't miss this opportunity'</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'I could not miss this opportunity' - Arsenal summer transfer target admits relief at failed Gunners move after achieving career goal at current club

Carabao Cup

Arsenal

Crystal Palace

LaLiga

Espanyol

Valencia

<p>Arsenal reportedly <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-make-eur20m-offer-goalkeeper-aaron-ramsdale-replacement-joan-garcia/blteb9f8851c322ab6e">bid €20 million (£17m/$22m)</a> for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer but the La Liga team valued him at €30m (£25m/$33m). Now, the 23-year-old has opened up on staying with his current side, saying he "could not miss this opportunity" after cementing his place in goal.  </p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He told <a href="https://www.marca.com/futbol/espanyol/2024/11/21/joan-garcia-podia-desaprovechar-oportunidad-oportunidad-portero-titular-espanyol.html" target="_blank">Marca</a> on Thursday: "I tried to isolate myself from everything that was being talked about. I had been given the opportunity for what I had been fighting for a long time, which was to be Espanyol’s starting goalkeeper. And I could not miss this opportunity." </p>

WHAT JOAN GARCIA SAID

<p>Ultimately, Garcia would have been a backup option to Arsenal's first-choice stopper, David Raya. The former Spain under-21 player only made his first-team breakthrough towards the tail end of last season and if he continues to perform well, the 6ft 3in man is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-joan-garcia-espanyol-sold-in-future/bltc5712ce125f323fd#csd0c0a0efd089c3e3" target="_blank">likely to get plenty more opportunities</a> to become a bigger team's number one option - rather than a deputy. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Arsenal, who ended up selling second-choice keeper <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/aaron-ramsdale-relationship-mikel-arteta-ending-arsenal-nightmare-joining-southampton/blta67aeb830246143b" target="_blank">Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton</a> and bringing in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/live/arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-today/bltf2c8f2dd89b3bb64" target="_blank">Bournemouth's Neto on loan</a> to compete with Raya, may yet try and swoop for Garcia again in 2025, however. </p>

WHAT NEXT?

'I could not miss this opportunity' - Arsenal summer transfer target admits relief at failed Gunners move after achieving career goal at current club  | Goal.com US

An Arsenal summer target has suggested he made the right move in not joining Mikel Arteta&apos;s side this season.

&apos;I could not miss this opportunity&apos; - Arsenal summer transfer target admits relief at failed Gunners move after achieving career goal at current club