Dislodged ‘keeper Ryan offered curious reprieve with Gunners

FEW FOOTBALL observers would have imagined an out of favour Brighton goalkeeper would get a move to Arsenal but that’s exactly what happened to Mat Ryan.

The Aussie no.1, Albion’s first choice goalkeeper for their first three seasons in the Premier League, surprisingly joined the Gunners having lost his Seagulls place to young Spaniard Robert Sanchez.

“We know Mat very well through his performances with Brighton in recent seasons and he brings additional quality to our squad,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta told the club’s website. “Mat has very good Premier League experience and has played over 100 times in the league, which is something that will benefit us greatly on and off the pitch.”

Technical director Edu added: “Mat is an experienced goalkeeper, a proven talent in the Premier League and has also played many internationals for Australia.

“Mat will further strengthen our squad with his experience and knowledge of playing at the highest level.”

The goalkeeper himself, a self-confessed boyhood Arsenal fan, relished the opportunity but found himself under fire from Brighton fans when he told Optus Sport: “I had in my mind a little bit of a plan that I wanted to play a couple of seasons at Brighton and try and do well and hopefully be bought by a bigger club and keep progressing in my career.

“Perhaps it didn’t work out in the way of playing two, three seasons and then being bought for a fee as no.1 and going and playing.

“But one way or another I’ve obviously ended up in a massive step up from Brighton and to another level of football.”

For someone who had always previously endeared himself to the Albion faithful, memorably running the length of the pitch to join teammates in goal celebrations and after games handing out bits of his kit to supporters, it struck a discordant note.

When Ryan learned how his comments had angered some Brighton supporters, he took to Instagram to address them.

“I want to apologise to anyone who has felt I’ve been disrespectful towards the club. This was not and never will be my intention.

“I recognise how people could have interpreted that through those comments and, moving forward, I’ll be sure to pay extra attention as to how I refer to the club to not have the same outcome.

“The club will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve got nothing but fond memories and wish all the best to you all for the remainder of the season and I’ll always continue to support the club because of our experiences together.”

Those experiences began ahead of Albion’s first season (2017-18) playing in the Premier League. Previous no.1 David Stockdale had chosen to move to Birmingham City, who were offering him a longer-term deal than Brighton, so the coast was clear for Ryan, already an established Australian international, to become Chris Hughton’s first choice goalkeeper.

Hughton himself admitted in an interview with the Argus that Ryan’s arrival had more to do with goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts. “He is the one who went to see him play, watched hours and hours of video.

“I didn’t see him live. Ben just thought he was a player at the right age, really enthusiastic. He’s different, not as big as some of the other keepers, but very athletic and really hungry to do well.

“I certainly watched a lot of him on video. We also, of course, have recommendations from our scouts but Ben is the one who looked at him and recommended him. You have to have faith in your staff.”

For his part, Ryan appreciated the work Roberts put in on the training ground. “Ben has a real knack of getting his goalkeepers in the best physical and mental shape in order to be best prepared for the opposition that we’re facing,” he told the matchday programme.

Signed from La Liga’s Valencia for a then club record transfer fee of £5 million, he played all 38 league games in his first season under Hughton, only missed four because of international commitments in 2018-19 and all league games in Graham Potter’s first season in charge.

In an early matchday programme interview, he spoke about how he had learned about life in the Premier League from fellow Aussie ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer (“a big hero of mine”) and, when on international duty, from former Aston Villa and Man Utd ‘keeper Mark Bosnich.

Ryan more often than not proved a reliable stopper for the Albion and he twice won Australia’s PFA Player of the Year award.

“At this level, you’ve got to be consistent,” he said. “Every day you’ve got to work hard on every aspect of your game and I’ve tried to do that.

“I try to contribute to the team as much as possible and it’s that constant challenge that you’ve got to try and live up to and, I guess, is what separates good players from great players – remaining consistent and sustaining those very high levels.”

And according to wearebrighton.com: “At his best throughout the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he was one of the most dependable number ones in the Premier League whose performances did more than most to keep Brighton in the top flight.”

He was sorry to see Hughton sacked – “Brought the club success it could only dream of and will always be someone I have the highest respect for” – but was happy to adapt to Potter’s more possession-based style in which the goalkeeper needed to be comfortable with the ball at his feet.

“It’s important we adapt to the new style so the system works as effectively as possible,” he said. “In the modern game you have to be able to adapt anyway, so each day I’m working hard and doing what’s being asked of me.”

The beginning of the end of his time at the Albion came when, out of the blue, young Sanchez was chosen to keep goal in a 2-1 defeat at Spurs after the Seagulls had managed only one win in the first six matches of the 2020-21 season.

Although restored to the starting line-up for the following five matches, following a 3-0 defeat at Leicester, Ryan was summoned by Potter and told Sanchez would be given an extended run in the side and that, assuming he wanted a no.1 berth, he would be better looking for a new club.

The conversation staggered Ryan and, ever a willing interviewee, told The World Game he was surprised and shocked but added: “Knowing where I stand now, from what was communicated to me, perhaps it might be better that we do go our separate ways.

“However, until that opportunity comes – and it’s a good project – then, as far as I’m concerned, I’m a Brighton player and I’m here to fight for my spot.”

Taking the opposite stance to the one Sanchez subsequently took when Jason Steele ousted him as no.1, Ryan vowed to continue to work hard.

“I still feel like I’ve got a lot to contribute and I’ll be trying to convince the manager I’m the best man for the job,” he said.

“I feel the experience I’ve picked up over the last three years in England shows I’ve got plenty to give to any club that wants to acquire my services.

“I think I’ve proved that through my performances.”

It was never particularly clear why Ryan eventually fell out of favour, although he ventured some ideas in an exclusive interview with Andy Naylor for The Athletic in March 2022.

He remembered at the start of the 2020-21 season noting there had been rumours around Albion being interested in signing Emiliano Martinez (who eventually went from Arsenal to Aston Villa) and when his (Ryan’s) agent tried to ask the club about it no one answered his call.

He was also heading into his fourth season of a five-year contract, but his agent wasn’t getting any response as to whether there would be a renewal.

“Thinking back, after all that has happened, maybe that was a sign,” Ryan told Naylor. “At the time, I wasn’t thinking anything of it, but when I think back now, maybe these were little signs.”

The loan move to Arsenal might have been brief – he had a won one, drew one, lost one record in three games – but his commitment to the cause was appreciated.

In a game against Fulham, a minute before the final whistle, Ryan went up for a corner and got his head on the ball to keep it live in the Fulham box before Eddie Nketiah equalised a few seconds later.

“I picked him because he totally deserves to play, he trains like a beast, he’s got the right attitude and he needed a game,” Arteta told Arsenal.com. “It was a great header.”

It led to him being chosen ahead of Bernd Leno for the 2 May trip to Newcastle which Arsenal won 2-0.

Although Arteta made all the right noises about signing him on a permanent basis, it turned out they wanted an English goalkeeper and they signed Aaron Ramsdale instead.

While awaiting news of where his next move would be, Ryan told Fox Sports Australia: “I’ve learnt so much in my experiences (at Arsenal) so far, all that’s being with a club like that, the resources, the personnel, the quality on the pitch, the enormity of the club on a global aspect… it was so cool to be a part of.

“It was a great experience and I was really proud of how I did and really content with how I did, and I showed that I have the capability to play at a level like that. I look forward to seeing what that little period now means for me moving forward.”

It was clear there would be no return to the Albion no.1 spot but warm words were issued when his summer departure to Real Sociedad was announced.

Potter declared: “He’s a great guy, top professional and as someone who wants to be playing regularly at senior level he goes to Real Sociedad with our very best wishes.

“He’s been a pleasure to work with, he will be fondly remembered by everyone and always welcome back at the club.”

Unfortunately for Ryan, a knee cartilage injury suffered in pre-season put a hold on him mounting a challenge to Sociedad’s well-established Alex Remiro, and he had limited chances to shine back in Spain.

Nonetheless, his confidence remained high and he told Naylor in The Athletic article: “I’m a very good goalkeeper – a world-class goalkeeper. Since I left Brighton, I feel the level I’ve played at in the games I’ve played in has been quite high.

“Don’t get me wrong, every time the team list goes up and I see I’m not playing, it’s a blow – a kick in the guts – but I try using it as motivation to keep pushing on. I won’t stop until I see my name there more regularly.”

Born on 8 April 1992 in Plumpton, New South Wales, as a teenager Ryan played for semi-professional sides Marconi Stallions and Blacktown City before turning pro with Central Coast Mariners in 2010, where he was given his pro debut by Graham Arnold, later his head coach at international level.

In the course of his three years with the Mariners, he picked up various league accolades for his performances and earned his first international recognition when selected for Australia’s under 23s in 2011. He stepped up as a full international the following year making his debut in a 1-1 draw with North Korea and played all three matches in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil before winning the AFC Asian Cup with the Socceroos in 2015. He went on to play for his country at the 2018 and 2022 World Cup final tournaments and, at the time of writing, had 95 caps to his name.

It was in 2013 that he moved to Europe and was signed by Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge, where he made more than 100 appearances over two years and was in the side that won the Belgian Cup in 2015 when Anderlecht were beaten 2-1 in Brussels. Ryan was the league’s goalkeeper of the year in 2014 and 2015.

An unhappy spell at Valencia followed where he managed only 21 appearances in two years, as the club got through five different managers. He spent the second half of the 2016-17 season back in Belgium, on loan to Genk, where he played 24 matches.

It would be fair to say Ryan has endured mixed fortunes since leaving Brighton. He managed only nine games for Sociedad before switching to FC Copenhagen but he only made six Danish Superliga starts and appeared in five cup matches while in Denmark.

AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands were able to offer him a return to being a regular no.1, though, and in 18 months he played 64 matches for the Eredivisie side, including 15 Europa Conference League games.

At the end of the 2023-24 season, he failed to agree a new deal with the club and the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that he ‘lost his game of poker’ with AZ’s sporting director Max Huberts, the club walking away from negotiations due to his wage demands.

As a free agent, Ryan joined Albion’s 2023-24 Europa League opponents AS Roma on a one-year contract as back-up to Serbian first choice ‘keeper, Belgian-born Serbian international Mile Svilar.

“If they get the Brighton version of Mathew Ryan, Roma will have a very safe pair of hands waiting in the wings,” reckoned Eliot Ben-Ner, writing for The Football Hub.

However, Ryan’s reign in Rome lasted only six months and in January 2025 he moved for a reported fee of £676,000 to French Ligue 1 side Lens on a six-month deal.

Steve Gatting’s three Brighton Wembley dates after missing out with Arsenal

1 MAIN gat sees GS goal.jpg STEVE Gatting played at Wembley three times for Brighton having twice been denied the opportunity by Arsenal.

After being left out of Arsenal’s FA Cup Final sides in both 1979 and 1980 he finally got to step out onto the hallowed turf twice in the space of five days in 1983.

And his appearance in Brighton’s 3-1 defeat to Notts County in the 1991 play-off final at the famous old stadium was also his last in an Albion shirt after 10 years at the club.

In Match Weekly’s 1983 Cup Final preview edition, Gatting revealed his heartache at missing out with Arsenal in 1979. “I expected to be at least substitute after playing in five of the games leading up to Wembley, including the semi-final,” he said. “I was desperately sick when I didn’t get a chance. Although I really wanted the lads to do well, I couldn’t help feeling pangs of regret as the cup was paraded around the ground.”

Born on 29 May 1959 in Park Royal, London, two years after his famous brother Mike, the former Middlesex and England cricket captain, Steve was no mean batsman himself.

Instead of joining the ground staff at Middlesex County Cricket Club, though, Gatting shone at football with Middlesex and London Schoolboys teams and became an associate schoolboy with Arsenal before joining as an apprentice in July 1975. Terry Neill signed him as a professional at the age of 17 and a year later he made his First Division debut against Southampton at Highbury.

Gatting made 76 appearances for Arsenal over three seasons, his most memorable being the 1979 FA Cup semi-final against Wolves at Villa Park. He said his biggest disappointment was missing out on the May 1980 European Cup Winners Cup Final against Valencia in Brussels.

In his youth career, Gatting played in the centre of the back four but Arsenal generally played him in midfield, where competition for places was fierce with the likes of Liam Brady and Graham Rix. He admitted after joining Brighton: “When they bought Brian Talbot from Ipswich, I sensed I was on my way out.”

It was rumoured Albion would take Gatting as part of a swap deal that would see Mark Lawrenson join Arsenal but, of course, Lawrenson went to Liverpool instead. Albion were still interested in Gatting, though, and in September 1981 new manager Mike Bailey met him and his displaced colleague Sammy Nelson at Gatwick Airport and agreed terms to buy the pair of them; £200,000 the fee for the young Gatting.

Albion offered Gatting the chance of regular first team football and, although the expectation was for him to occupy a midfield spot, he quickly stepped in alongside Steve Foster in the back four and completed 45 appearances that season.

Aside from a rare couple of spells back in midfield, he remained a defender for the rest of his career, often slotting in at left back – apart from when he played right-back in the Cup Final replay.

Gatting had a terrific game alongside Gary Stevens in the 2-2 drawn first game against Man United, but Jimmy Melia unwisely chose to play the left-footed Gatting in place of injured Chris Ramsey (he should have put Stevens there) and the back line was noticeably unbalanced as they went down 4-0.

The Paul Camillin / Stewart Weir book Albion The first 100 years said: “Played out of position at right-back in the replay, he endured an uncomfortable evening in an unfamiliar role.”

Even so, interviewed three years later in the Albion matchday programme, Gatting spoke fondly about his memories of the whole occasion.

“The helicopter flight to Wembley was a new experience. We flew over the stadium and saw all our fans below,” he said. “That was a great moment. We landed and drove to the ground and went straight out onto the pitch to get a taste of the atmosphere. I met my brother Mike out there and to be honest he was more nervous than me!

“The greatest part of the whole day was walking out of the tunnel and seeing all the fans and being deafened by the cheering. That is an ambition every footballer has, to play in the Cup Final at Wembley. It was a dream come true for us and I think it lifted our game.”

Gatting had made only eight first team appearances in the 1984-85 season before, in November 1984, he sustained a serious pelvic injury which threatened his career. After five months, it was decided the only solution was a bone graft to the pelvis.

He had to remain motionless in hospital for a month and then rest on his couch when he was allowed home.

His wife Joy told Tony Norman in March 1986: “I felt sorry for Steve. He’s usually such an active person but suddenly he just had to sit there. It must have been very difficult. But Steve never got into self-pity. He stayed very positive and I respected him for that.”

Norman reported: “It was a long hard road for Steve. He started taking long walks in July, to build up strength and that progressed into jogging, light training and finally full training. He made his comeback game in the Reserves on 26 October.

Gatting told the interviewer: “When you are playing regularly, you tend to take things for granted. But when something like a serious injury comes along, it makes you realise how lucky you are to be fit and playing the game you enjoy so much. When you’re sitting on the sidelines week in week out it brings it home to you.”

The injury restricted him to only 17 appearances in the 1985-86 season but he was restored fully to the side in 1986-87 when financial issues clouded Alan Mullery’s return to the manager’s chair and successor Barry Lloyd couldn’t stop the inexorable slide to relegation from the second tier.

In a League Cup game replay away against First Division leaders Nottingham Forest, Gatting had to take over in goal when Perry Digweed was forced off with a broken cheekbone. Gatting completed 45 appearances that season and said: “Dropping into the Third Division was far worse than going out of the First.

'keeper Gatt - webb on ground

Makeshift ‘keeper Gatting claims the ball with Nottingham Forest’s Neil Webb grounded

“All the players at the time felt they were good enough to stay up, but it didn’t happen and we gave a lot of silly goals away.

“The whole club was unsettled, too, but things became better again. Getting back into the Second Division was a boost for everybody.”

Gatting was ever-present in the 1987-88 promotion-winning campaign, even though in July 1987 Lloyd had given him a free transfer! The defender had other ideas and managed to play his way back into contention to such an extent that he ended up the season as captain, taking over from Doug Rougvie.

“It was nice to know I was wanted, particularly after relegation the year before,” he said.

Having made his 200^th league appearance for the Albion against Chester on 12 December 1987, it was no surprise he viewed with some relish a FA Cup tie against his old club.

“Quite honestly, as a Third Division club, we don’t expect to go all the way, but I think we have the ability to scrape a result against Arsenal,” he said. “It gives me the opportunity to renew old friendships with Kenny Sansom, David O’Leary, Graham Rix and Paul Davis who were all members of the Arsenal staff when I was there.”

Albion pushed the Gunners all the way in front of a packed house and Garry Nelson rifled a memorable goal, but Arsenal prevailed 2-1.

Evening Argus Albion reporter John Vinicombe profiled Gatting warmly in a piece produced for a pre-season supplement ahead of the 1989-90 season, headlined “ice-cool Gatt”.

He described Gatting as “surely one of the most laid-back of individuals, whose natural personality is quiet and reserved”.

The report continued: “He shuns being the centre of attention, but the fact that he stays cool, even in nerve-wracking situations, is an important consideration when assessing leadership qualities.

“Leadership runs in the family, and many would say that older brother Mike was unlucky to lose the captaincy of England’s cricket team.”

On another occasion, Gatting said of his brother: “I’m proud of what Mike has achieved and I keep up to date with the latest news and enjoy watching the highlights on TV.

“We are close, we always have been, but the funny thing is I hardly ever go to see Mike play. When I do go, he never seems to make runs. So I think it’s best to stay at home and watch the Tests on TV.”

As mentioned previously, Steve was a good batsman in his own right and played for Middlesex Second XI. In Sussex, he enjoyed a summer tour with Brighton Brunswick as well as making runs for Preston Nomads.

Vincombe wrote: “Gatting occupies a special niche in the affections of Albion regulars. They see in him a thoroughly decent and well-behaved person whose standards on and off the field are high. Albion have been good to him and Gatting, after not a few periods of uncertainty, has been good for Albion.”

Gatting for his part said: “I’ve seen a lot of changes since arriving here, and I’ve played under five managers who have all had different ideas.”

A cut glass decanter and glasses from chairman Dudley Sizen at Gatting’s testimonial

He was granted a testimonial for his long service and a curtain-raiser to his 10^th season with the club saw Albion draw 2-2 with Arsenal in front of a crowd of 5,517. The Gunners included their recent big money signings David Seaman, Andy Linighan and Anders Limpar.

Injury niggles continued to plague him towards the end of his 10 years at the club but he worked his way back into the side in 1990-91, slotting in at left-back and culminating in that 1991 play-off final against Notts County at Wembley.

Long after all the other members of the Brighton 1983 Cup Final side had departed, Gatting was still pulling on the stripes, and, but for those injuries, he would surely have made many more appearances than the 366 + three as sub (21 goals) that stand as his record.

Given another free transfer in 1991, he departed for Second Division Charlton Athletic along with Garry Nelson, linking up with former Albion teammate Alan Curbishley who at the time was joint manager with Steve Gritt.

Charlton only narrowly missed out on a play-off place while Albion were relegated!

By the end of the following season, when Gatting retired, he had played a total of 64 games for the Addicks.

He then turned his attention to coaching and spent seven years at independent school Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, before returning to Arsenal in 2007 to work as an academy coach. Gatting was working as Arsenal’s under-23s coach until May 2018 when he and his assistant Carl Laraman were suspended after accusations of bullying were made against them, and neither returned to their roles.

Gatting subsequently joined League Two Stevenage as assistant coach under Dino Maamria just before Christmas 2018 but he left the Hertfordshire club shortly before the end of the 2018-19 season.

• There have not been many father-son combos during my time watching Albion (Gerry and Darragh Ryan were the first that spring to mind) but it must have given Steve great pride to see his son Joe make it through the youth ranks at Brighton and go on to play for the first team. He made 44 appearances and I recall an away game at Carrow Road when Steve and Uncle Mike were both watching the youngster in Albion’s forward line. Eventually, after he left the Seagulls in 2008, he turned to cricket and was good enough to play at county level for Sussex and Hampshire.