Arsenal's Turner admits he's in 'big trouble' after on pitch baby gender reveal

28 March 2023 , 11:55

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Matt Turner celebrated learning he is having a daughter with his team-mates

USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner held a baby gender reveal with his team-mates on the field, shortly after beating El Salvador 1-0 on Monday night.

The United States edged El Salvador at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, with Ricardo Pepi netting his third goal of the international break to seal the three points. Turner had little to do throughout the game, but became the centre of attention at full-time.

With the Turner family expecting, a baby gender reveal was planned as team-mates huddled behind the goalkeeper in anticipation. A small soccer ball was filled with a certain colour of powerder, before being kicked and revealed by the Arsenal star.

Turner and his wife, Ashley Herron, are expecting their second child after already welcoming Easton into the family. Their little boy has become a popular sight amongst Arsenal and USMNT fans, regularly shared in pictures wearing jerseys for club and country.

But Turner's reaction was heart-warming as pink puffed out the ball as he discovered that a baby girl is now on the way, completing the perfect nuclear family for the goalkeeper and his wife. The whole stadium even got involved, with those fans still in the ground counting down before the reveal took place.

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The spirit of the USMNT was clear to see, with the squad all congratulating Turner and huddling around the emotional shot-stopper. And Turner spoke to GOAL after the game, and he's aware that he's going to be in "big trouble" as a father.

"I was nervous for sure," Turner told GOAL, "But it's like an excitement kind of nervous. You just want to know because I just like knowing!

"It's a good feeling to know that we're gonna have a little baby girl and I think I'm in big, big trouble in the future. She's gonna have me wrapped around her finger!"

Turner is married to Herron, a former New England Patriots cheerleader. The pair met while in New England, with Turner starring for MLS side New England Revolution before being signed by Arsenal.

Matt Turner and his wife, Ashley Herron, are expecting their second child (@headdturnerr / Instagram)

The goalkeeper is thought to be loving his time at Arsenal, but has admitted that family is really important to him and his wife. In London they're many miles away from their US hometowns, but they're happy chasing a "dream".

"20 or so people from my family came down here (for the game and reveal)," Turner added. "Family time is really important to my wife and I and being in London, it's few and far between.

"Obviously, we're chasing this crazy dream over there. That takes away from her being close to her family, because when we were in Boston, she's from Maine, and me being only a three hour drive from New Jersey. To be able to come here and for U.S. Soccer to be so flexible to allow us to do that, it's just a really special moment for us and I'm super excited to be a girl dad!"

Joseph McBride