'Couldn't make it up' - Arsenal fans react to debut showing from Brighton loanee Mat Ryan

The Australian stopper was handed his first appearance for the Gunners in Saturday lunchtime's Premier League clash with Aston Villa, but found himself picking the ball out of the back of the net after just 74 seconds.

A heavily-deflected Ollie Watkins strike outfoxed the 28-year-old, who conceded before he had even registered his first touch for Mikel Arteta’s men.

According to stats gurus Opta, that makes him just the fourth goalkeeper in Premier League history to let in a goal within two minutes of his making his debut for a new side.

Given the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the goal, however, Arsenal fans seemed willing to give the Albion man the benefit of the doubt.

We’ve gathered some of the best reactions from Gunners on Twitter below:

@Detox1993 tweeted: “I feel sorry for Mat Ryan already, defensive idiocy costs us”.

@afcmason3 tweeted: “Cedric ruining Mat Ryan’s debut. Pain”.

@mahremusic tweeted: “Well. Nothing Mat Ryan could do about that. Welcome to Arsenal, mate”.

@Artekkers tweeted: “Mat Ryan’s first touch as an Arsenal player is to pick the ball out of the net. Couldn’t make it up.”

@blufferthegeek tweeted: “Mat Ryan’s first contribution for Arsenal was picking the ball out of the net. Of course it was.”

@LanneAFC tweeted: “Mat Ryan needed a good run with a solid defence to be eased in. He’s been a quality keeper in his career but he’s had a tough 18 months and now we forced him into conceding 2 minutes into debut. Doesn’t really help”.

@BestAFCGoals tweeted: “I’m actually seeing people blame Mat Ryan for the goal? Jesus, our fan base is deluded, take your agendas and leave”.