Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson

Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (born 18 February 1995) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Arsenal and the Iceland national team. In addition to Arsenal, Rúnar Alex has previously played for Dijon, FC Nordsjælland and KR Reykjavik.

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Rúnar Alex.

Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson
Rúnarsson with Dijon in 2020
Personal information
Full name Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson[1]
Date of birth (1995-02-18) 18 February 1995
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 13
Youth career
2012–2013 KR Reykjavik
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 KR Reykjavik 3 (0)
2014–2018 FC Nordsjælland 60 (0)
2018–2020 Dijon 36 (0)
2020– Arsenal 1 (0)
National team‡
2011 Iceland U16 2 (0)
2012 Iceland U17 1 (0)
2012 Iceland U18 2 (0)
2012–2014 Iceland U19 9 (0)
2013–2016 Iceland U21 17 (0)
2017– Iceland 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2020

Family

Rúnar Alex is the son of Rúnar Kristinsson, a former professional footballer who is the only Icelander to have had more than 100 caps for the senior national team.[2][3]

Club career

Rúnar Alex was player of the season for FC Nordsjælland in the 2017–18 Danish Superliga.[4]

In June 2018, Rúnar Alex joined Dijon on a four-year agreement.[4]

On 21 September 2020, Rúnar Alex signed for Premier League club Arsenal on a four-year deal. He chose the number 13 at the club.[5] Rúnar Alex made his debut for the club on the 29th October 2020, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 UEFA Europa League win over League of Ireland side Dundalk at the Emirates Stadium.[6]

On 22 December 2020, Rúnar Alex made two goalkeeping errors in the 4–1 EFL Cup defeat to Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez's free-kick which was shot straight at Rúnar Alex was parried into his own net. He was also partly at fault for the opening goal, getting easily beaten at his near post by a Gabriel Jesus header.[7] Due to heavy criticism from fans, he deactivated his Twitter account.[8] After first choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno was sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 February 2021, Rúnar Alex made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Thomas Partey in a 2–1 away defeat.[9]

International career

Having previously represented his country at youth level, Rúnar Alex was called up to the Iceland senior squad for the 2017 China Cup,where the team became the silver medalist[10][11] He earned his first senior cap in a friendly against the Czech Republic on 9 November 2017.

In May 2018, he was named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 February 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
KR Reykjavik 2013 Úrvalsdeild 3000—1[lower-alpha 1]040
FC Nordsjælland 2013–14 Danish Superliga 0000——00
2014–15 Danish Superliga 1000——10
2015–16 Danish Superliga 3000——30
2016–17 Danish Superliga 20000——200
2017–18 Danish Superliga 36000——360
Total 60000——600
Dijon 2018–19 Ligue 1 25040101[lower-alpha 2]0310
2019–20 Ligue 1 1102010—140
Total 360602010450
Arsenal 2020–21 Premier League 1000104[lower-alpha 1]060
Career total 10006030601150
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in Ligue 1 relegation play-offs

International
As of match played 15 November 2020[14]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iceland 201710
201840
201900
202020
Total70

References
  1. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: List of players: Iceland" (PDF). FIFA. 10 June 2018. p. 13. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. "Rúnar Kristinsson: Stefán er góður kostur". Mbl.is. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. "Rúnar Kristinsson". Visir.is. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. "Rúnar Alex genginn í raðir Dijon". Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. "Pictures: Alex Runarsson in Arsenal colours". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  6. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fc-xi-vs-dundalk-confirmed-team-news-starting-lineup-latest-injuries-europa-league-a4573302.html
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55312316
  8. Ha, Andy (23 December 2020). "Runar Alex Runarsson deletes Twitter account after mistake against Man City". Football.London. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. "Wolves 2-1 Arsenal: David Luiz and Bernd Leno sent off as Gunners lose". 2 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. "Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson | Félagsmaður | Mótalisti | Mótamál | Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". Ksi.is (in Icelandic). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  11. "Sjö nýliðar með karlalandsliðinu til Kína". Ruv.is. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  12. "Injured Gylfi Sigurdsson in Iceland's World Cup squad". Goal.com. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  13. Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson at Soccerway
  14. "Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson". EU-Football.info. 23 June 2018.
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