Alexei Rojas, Arsenal‘s promising young goalkeeper, has opened up about his experiences at the club, revealing details about training with the first team and his future aspirations.

He discussed his journey in an exclusive interview with Colombian outlet RCN.

Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko’s journey through the youth ranks of international football has led him to Arsenal, where he has been gaining valuable experience and making strides in his development.

Having ties to England, Colombia, and Russia, Rojas seems to have settled on representing the South American nation.

The 18-year-old has been playing for Colombia’s U20 national team, signalling a defining moment in his young career when he represented them at the South American U-20 championship then the World Cup.

The promising goalkeeper shared insights about his life at Arsenal during an exclusive interview with RCN, a Colombian outlet.

“During international breaks or the day after a game when the first-team players are recovering, there is often the opportunity to train with the first team. I have been with Iñaki Caña and Terry Mason, the goalkeeping assistant,” said Rojas.

“I always learn a lot, I come away learning new things about it. They are useful to me and are high-level players, to continue growing in my development. 

Although he is still in the early stages of his career at Arsenal, Rojas has had a few opportunities to interact with first-team manager Mikel Arteta. “With Mikel Arteta, I’ve exchanged words, I’ve said hello, but not much,” Rojas said.

“However, the times I’ve spoken to him, I’ve realised that he knows a lot about football, he has knowledge. It’s no surprise because of his experience as a player at Barcelona, Everton, Arsenal, and because he worked with Guardiola,” he disclosed.

Such opportunities have proven to be a turning point in his growth, giving him the chance to train alongside Arsenal‘s third-choice goalkeeper, Karl Hein. “You train with them, especially with the goalkeepers, with Karl Hein, who is the third goalkeeper in the professional squad. Obviously, he gives me advice, their level is good to see where we can improve. All the players are friendly with the youngsters; they help us. That’s positive, and we feel good training with them,” Rojas explained.

Prior to his move to Arsenal, Rojas had been part of Chelsea’s academy. He joined the Gunners in 2022 and has become a key figure in their UEFA Youth League team, further highlighting his potential.

“The level is much higher, even than the U-18 games we usually have,” he said about the UEFA Youth League. It’s a good challenge for me, for the team. Football is faster and they are smart. Since we are playing with boys from Europe, at 19 and 20 years old, they are in the second team, equivalent to the U-21.

“Many of those clubs already play professionally. For example, PSV plays in the third division of the Netherlands. That gives them experience, they are skilled players. It is more difficult to play against them and I learn a lot from those games.”

Discussing his future at the club, Rojas remained optimistic: “My goals have been clear since July when we started pre-season.

“I won the U18 starting place, I have to maintain that. I want to have the opportunity to play with the U21s in the second half, after the goalkeepers go out on loan.

“I already played in the Youth Champions League against PSV, and I was also in the game against Lens.

“I have to keep this up, and I hope to sign my contract as a professional with Arsenal, continuing my journey with the Colombian national team.”

It’s evident that he is a young player with much to offer, and he will be one to watch as he continues to hone his skills and pursue his ambitions both at Arsenal and on the international stage.