Kepa Arrizabalaga became our first signing of the summer transfer window and his ambition is simple, he’s here to win.
The Spaniard made the switch from Chelsea where he won four major honours, as well three cups during a loan spell at Real Madrid.
While his career is already decorated, Kepa revealed conversations with manager Mikel Arteta and goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña fuelled his desire to come to N5 to add to his medal collection.
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“We're here to win,” the stopper said in his first interview. “I think we have a great team. I think we have great staff around here, the best facilities, so we have to prepare ourselves for this season and to have success.
“When I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], they show me their desire to win. They showed me this ambition, how much they want to improve, how much they want to grow and I'm really here to help, to push and to win more.”
The 30-year-old is familiar with several players in our current squad, including Kai Havertz, with the pair playing 57 times together in west London. Our new number 13 revealed he has spoken with the German striker, as well as our captain Martin Odegaard, who both gave an insight into life at N5.
“I spoke with Kai,” he said. “He was with Martin so we were talking, we had a good chat together and they already started explaining a little bit about how everything works and how good the atmosphere is right now in the changing room. So, I can't wait to join.”
Kepa has played at every level internationally, from under-18 right through to the Spanish national team, sharing multiple squads with new teammate David Raya, who he will now battle with for the sole goalkeeping spot in our side.
Despite that, the new man revealed he has a great relationship with David and is excited to be joining a strong goalkeeping unit.
“He’s a great goalkeeper and we have a very good relationship," he added. We will compete, we will train together, we will share a lot of time together. We will have competition, as with all the positions in the team, but with the only goal that is to win and be the best ones.”
Kepa has played against us on nine occasions during his senior career, but the visit to Emirates Stadium that sticks out the most comes from his time in the Athletic Bilbao academy.
Joining the famous Basque club at the age of nine, Kepa rose through the ranks and in 2012, he faced our academy as part of the NextGen Series, a tournament aimed at promoting the brightest stars of the future. After playing out a 0-0 draw in Bilbao, Kepa visited our home where one name stood out above all else.
He smiled and said: “Santi Cazorla. I can remember when he was here and I came here with Athletic Club to play an academy game. We were in the stadium, and I can remember his t-shirt in the club shop, so it's one of the memories that I have from a long time ago.
“I’ve come here as an opponent but the atmosphere in the stadium is beautiful. Obviously, it's a big stadium, a top stadium, with big fans. From outside you can see how much they love the club, how much they support the club and this, for a player, it's amazing to have this support behind you.”
Watch the full interview with Kepa now by pressing play on the video above
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