Kepa Arrizabalaga (Ondarroa, 1994) has long since shed the tag associated with the 80 million fee that brought him to England in 2018. The Spanish goalkeeper is now happy in his role as second-choice keeper in a winning team like Arsenal, and when the opportunity arises, as it did in the League Cup against Brighton, he becomes a key figure in progressing to the quarter-finals.

"I'm very happy, to be honest," Kepa admitted in statements to EFE at the Emirates Stadium in London. "It was a difficult match; they have a very good team, they've started the season well, and they caused us problems, especially in the first 15 minutes, until we adjusted our pressing and their movements a little. We played some players who don't usually feature in the league, so it was also important to perform in front of our fans in an important match. The most important thing is the qualification, the clean sheet, and the victory."

Kepa decided to swap Chelsea for Arsenal this summer after falling out of favour with the 'Blues', who had loaned him out for two consecutive years, first to Real Madrid, with whom he won the Champions League - the second of his career - and the Spanish League, and then to Bournemouth, with whom he achieved a record points total in the club's history.

However, at Arsenal, he knew that his role would be as second-choice goalkeeper because the 'Gunners' have David Raya in goal, untouchable in the Premier League and Champions League, and Golden Glove winner in the league for the last two seasons.

"I wanted to grow and improve, that was my intention. They presented the project in the best way. I think we have one of the largest and most talented squads. We want to compete for every competition, and the seasons are long. I want to try to contribute in every match, in every training session, in whatever position I'm in. I think coming to Arsenal was an important challenge. It's obvious that David is doing a great job, but I wanted to come here and do my bit."

The player from Ondarroa has joined an Arsenal side with the makings of champions, but who are missing the crown of a title. They haven't won a major trophy since the 2019 FA Cup, but they have been Premier League runners-up three years in a row and last season played their first Champions League semi-finals in 17 years. All that effort is bearing fruit, and Mikel Arteta's side are top of the Premier League, four points ahead of second place, top of their Champions League group with three wins in three matches, and in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, where they will face Crystal Palace.

"Let the season end now, right?", the Basque jokes. "We're only in October. We have to be in this situation in May. We've started strongly, we're doing well, we're confident, but there's still a long way to go. We have to keep doing things well, we have to keep our feet on the ground and take it step by step."

Key to this exceptional form is the defence, the great stronghold on which Arteta wants to build a champion team. Arsenal have only conceded three goals in nine Premier League matches, in search of the record of 15 goals in 28 matches conceded by José Mourinho's Chelsea in 2004-2005, and zero in the Champions League, with three clean sheets in three matches.

"It's the mentality that we all have. The team is very clear that we all defend and we all attack and that everyone gives their all in every match. The effort that the team makes from the striker to the goalkeeper is very great, and that makes us united, that there are many assists. Physically, the team is strong because the players are. And then having the mentality to defend, because as long as you keep a clean sheet, you're at least going to get a draw," Kepa pointed out.

David Raya

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