If you were a young goalkeeper with South American roots coming through the system at Arsenal then the obvious sources of inspiration would be Emiliano Martinez and David Opsina.
Now 32-years-of-age, the Aston Villa stopper has won the World Cup, Copa America – twice, and a whole collection of personal awards.
He also won the FA Cup in 2020, and his joy at winning that trophy having fought for so long to be prominent with the Gunners overflowed at full time and he struggled through a BBC interview in tears.
Alexei Rojas would probably sign up for such a career right now, with the 19-year-old goalkeeper having signed a professional contract with Arsenal earlier this year.
He was born in England, but is able to represent Colombia via his father and Russia via his mother.
Colombia’s Noticias Caracol has had a chat with the Arsenal youngster, and he was asked how things are going with the Gunners: “Things are going well here in England, working hard every day, improving a lot, learning a lot, and taking advantage of opportunities. They’ve been good in recent months, I’ve been training with the first team every day, being with them I’ve improved a lot, I’m raising my level a lot. It’s a demanding environment, I’m with the best players in the world and you have to improve every day to survive.”
Last weekend he was called us as third goalkeeper for Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth, and that’s clearly been a boost and a little step on a road he wants to go to the very end: “I’m very happy and grateful for the opportunity. Generally, this is an opportunity that few get and for me it’s one more step towards getting closer to my goal, which is to be the best goalkeeper in the world. What they told me was on Thursday, I was training as I normally do and they told me “get ready to travel tomorrow”. I was happy, I had been training well in the last few weeks, waiting for the opportunity to be called up. It was a great experience to be so close to a Premier League match.”
The 36-year-old, now at Atletico Nacional, has offered to support to the Arsenal youngster and seems keen to help where he can, even if it’s left Alexei Rojas a little starstruck at times.
“After the U-20 World Cup, I was in Bogotá before returning to London,” Rojas explained.
“David Ospina was recovering from an injury and was at the FCF headquarters and I get on very well with the senior kit manager and he told me that he would be there, that if I wanted I could come and see him. The coach Alejandro Otamendi asked me to change, I put on gloves, boots and a uniform and went out to train with David Ospina and Alejandro.
“I met him when I was barely eleven years old when he was at Arsenal. We spoke to each other sometimes on the phone, from time to time he gives me advice, we talk about different things about our position. When they were in London, in March, I went by the hotel, they were training and I was able to share with everyone, be with the group, talk to Alejandro Otamendi, with Néstor Lorenzo and the important thing is that they get to know me and I know that they are keeping an eye on me. Hopefully soon I will be given the opportunity to be selected, but for that I must continue working and performing well for that opportunity on merit.”
On what he’s been able to take from Emiliano Martinez, he said: “The importance of consistency, of never giving up, a goalkeeper like him who had been there for many years, who was not given continuity, who was sent on loan, it is very easy to give up, however, he was there every day, improving, taking advantage of the time he had and when he was given the opportunity, Leno was injured at Arsenal, he took advantage of those games and did super well.
“Many people wanted him to stay as a starter, but he’s at another big club like Aston Villa, now he is world champion, golden glove and that shows that sometimes you just need the opportunity and have to be ready.”
Rojas wasn’t quite finished there with his praise for Arsenal goalkeepers past and present, and added: “My first idol was Petr Cech, when I started as a goalkeeper, I initially watched Chelsea a lot because of him. I had the opportunity to meet him. The most recent one is David Ospina and now that I have the opportunity to work with David Raya, he is a great goalkeeper and I learn from him, for me he is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
