Guest report made by Alek Sánchez.
Arnas Voitinovicius (2006) is an 18-year-old goalkeeper from Lithuania who has claimed the starting spot in SL Benfica’s UEFA Youth League side this season, as well as in the U23 team competing in the Portuguese Liga Revelação U23. Born in Vilnius, the right-footed goalkeeper was signed by Benfica in January 2024 from FK Riteriai after making his debut in the Lithuanian top tier in July 2023 at the age of 16.
Standing at 188cm, the Baltic goalkeeper is a reliable player in aerial situations. He shows a powerful jumping reach alongside good handling and punching technique. However, his most remarkable physical qualities are his explosiveness and agility in shot-stopping actions. Especially when facing close-range shots, Voitinovicius displays an impressive reaction speed and excellent hand-eye coordination, making saves efficiently with different parts of his body.
At Benfica, he mainly operates in a high-press system, acting as a proactive goalkeeper and playing well far from his goal line. He has developed a strong athletic physique and displays explosive acceleration when rushing out of his goal, making it difficult to beat him on through balls near the edge of the box.
From a technical standpoint, he shows excellent handling technique across low, medium, and high shots. Additionally, he often opts to block rather than parry shots away—a rare trait in modern goalkeepers. Even in rainy conditions, Voitinovicius doesn’t shy away from handling shots when possible, showing intelligence in his decision-making when dealing with shots. He may not be an orthodox goalkeeper, but he’s highly efficient in how he handles situations.
When analyzing his profile, it’s commendable to break it down into his contribution to the defensive and attacking phases. Defensively, he possesses all the technical traits to be either a reactive or proactive goalkeeper. When Benfica is under intense pressure in a low block, Voitinovicius excels when called upon, showing quick footwork along his line, sound positioning, and impressive speed in repositioning for second actions. When playing far from his line, he demonstrates a well-developed sense of anticipation, being a brave goalkeeper in ground challenges who can cover significant vertical distances around his box to proactively defend his area and its surroundings.
However, his on-the-ball technique still needs improvement. He lacks technique with his feet, which limits his effectiveness in contributing to his team’s build-up phase. His first touch, ball control, and passing skills (across short, medium, and long distributions) are all below the expected standard compared to his effectiveness in defensive actions. Whether through goal kicks, starting a low build-up, or launching fast offensive transitions, he currently lacks the accuracy to be a reliable asset in possession. With improvement, he could become an excellent third man when playing out from the back.
What impacted me most of his performances—especially under intense pressure or after setbacks—was his composure. He rarely shows visible emotions and appears unflappable, even after conceding or making mistakes. Despite his limitations with his feet, he continues to push himself to play from the back, demonstrating determination and no lack of confidence, even after a missed pass.
It’s been almost a year since Voitinovicius arrived in Lisbon, and he is already taking the right steps. It was no surprise when he got called up for the first team’s pre-season last summer. No other goalkeeper in the club’s academy (from U17 to the B team) has played more minutes this season than Voitinovicius—a clear sign of the club’s strong faith in him. His path to the first team will be challenging, however. Only Ederson (now at Manchester City) and Bruno Varela (Vitoria Guimarães) have made it to the first team as starting keepers after graduating from the academy in the past decade. Both needed several loans along the way.
If he can improve his footwork, Voitinovicius has the potential to become a starting goalkeeper in one of the top 5 European leagues. Game time in his position is essential, and he’s not only earning those minutes but using them effectively this season. Becoming the regular starter for the B team next season should be his main target. Game experience in the Portuguese second division will provide a new level of challenge compared to facing the best academies in Portugal and Europe. So far, he’s making a strong case to take that next step.
Target Scouting 