Arsenal don’t just have an incredible first team; they also have a fantastic youth setup.
The Gunners’ academy is one of the best in the business and has produced a number of phenomenal talents over the years.
From Bukayo Saka at the end of the last decade to the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Max Dowman, Arsenal have saved millions thanks to Hale End.
Another young player is now dreaming big and has revealed that he is on his way to being a part of the first team – Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko.
Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko says he is in the Arsenal first team
Rojas joined Arsenal from Chelsea’s academy in 2019, when he was just 13 years old.
The Colombia U20 international, who has also represented Russia and England at younger age groups, has come through the ranks at the academy and has even made the first-team squad once.
However, Mikel Arteta is yet to give Rojas his senior debut, and on Arsenal’s website, he is displayed as part of their academy squad.
The 20-year-old was part of the Colombia squad in the U20 World Cup recently. He was on the bench in all their games as they finished third in the tournament.
Everything was going well in Rojas’ mind, but just before the third-place play-off against France, Colombia U20 manager Cesar Torres aimed a dig at the goalkeeper.
He said: “Here, there is a starting goalkeeper who has minutes, who is a starter in our league. Then there is Alexei, who belongs to Arsenal, who has never played. The only game he has played was for me. He has never played for his club, and if you look at the photo of the professional team, he is not there.”
Rojas clearly didn’t like that and has hit back. In his statement, the youngster claimed that he is going to be a part of the Arsenal first team as soon as he returns to London.
He told AS Chile: “In the last 24 hours, there have been some words circulating about the doubts about whether I am part of Arsenal’s professional squad or not. When the photo of the Arsenal professional squad was taken, it was the week of October 16th. I was in Paraguay with the national team, thinking about this World Cup.”
“I’m now returning to Arsenal to be in the first team, to continue learning and sharing with the best players and coaches in the world. To continue helping the team so we can go for more.
“It’s a team that is first in the best league in the world, and we are going for the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, and the Champions League. I’m a very firm member of that squad, and I am growing and contributing a lot every day.”
Alexei Rojas is in a difficult situation at Arsenal
Rojas is a very talented young goalkeeper, and he definitely has a future at the top level. However, the goalkeeping department at Arsenal is really congested.
David Raya is the undisputed number one under Arteta, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was brought in this summer to provide cover.
In the professional photo Rojas talked about above, Tommy Setford stood alongside the two Arsenal first-team goalkeepers.
In addition to them, Arsenal have Jack Porter, who played in the Carabao Cup last season. Khari Ranson has also been impressing, while Lucas Nygaard is also on the Gunners’ books.
That is immense competition for Rojas and, to make things worse, his contract expires at the end of this season.
It remains to be seen how Arsenal will handle the youngster’s future in the coming months.
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