Arsenal youngster João Virgínia is the subject of some fuss from Portuguese newspaper O Jogo this week, with an interview getting an entire page.
The 18-year-old, who left Benfica for the Gunners in 2015, is now slowly conquering his place in Arsenal’s squad, having got a few chances to train with the first team this season.
Of course the interview had some cliches, with João claiming he misses ‘the sun and food’ from Portugal, but the youngster had some pretty nice things to say about his start at the club.
“I’m getting closer to Arsenal’s first team, and for the next year, I hope to continue to be there even more times,” João Virgínia told O Jogo. “I currently train with them several days a week and want to continue to progress.
“I want to become a third and then second goalkeeper until I get to jersey number 1 as fast as possible. Playing in the first team of Arsenal and being number one, which is still vacant, is at present my great goal, my biggest dream.”
Despite showing great admiration for the other goalkeepers, João doesn’t seem to be any modest about his own skills. He claims he want Cech’s and Ospina’s places, and is good enough to get it.“I learn a lot from Cech at trainings because he has a lot of experience and is a great person. He spends some of the time talking to me, explaining me some details. And when we meet at the gym, we always talk a lot. I have learned a lot from him both in and out of practice.”
“I look at the way Cech and Ospina play and adapt their style to what has more to do with my game. Personally, I love Cech’s position in the goal, he reads the opponents very well and he knows what will happen.”
“Of course I see an opportunity there, because Cech is at the end of his career and Ospina is not very young anymore. I know I have talent and I see myself reaching their level in the future, or even higher.”
With Arsene Wenger announcing his departure last week, O Jogo took the chance to ask about the manager’s influence in João’s time at Arsenal. The goalkeeper says it’s been huge.
“The boss is very respected at Arsenal and is a great manager looking at the academy, from where he knows to take great talents. When I go there to train with the first team he motivates me a lot and even when I make a great save he is attentive and says: ‘Good one, João!’, Always encouraging me. Wenger is a club legend that I admire a lot because he helped me to evolve.”
