It’s been an extremely busy couple of months, with games in all four competitions – how would you sum up the mood around the training ground right now?
Oh, the mood is incredible. We know how we are playing, how we are doing, during these especially tough moments as well when we had a lot of injuries. So doing what we’re doing I think is top and we should be proud. Everyone was happy with the Christmas and New Year when we were able to take points from the opponents that we have dropped points against in the past. It’s really, really important to have these results during periods when you play every two or three days.
Our home form has been incredible so far this season. What makes it such a difficult place for other teams to come to?
I think the atmosphere is really, really good. The fans are right behind us, they give us that extra edge that sometimes we need when we can’t find the first goal or when we’re not playing our best. They encourage us to give them a little bit more, and I think that’s really, really important to have. When we are at home, especially, we want to win every single game for the supporters and for us.
It’s 12 clean sheets for you in the Premier League so far this season. How pleased are you with your performances?
I think I’m in a good moment in my career, I’m feeling very comfortable and confident to try and help the team as much as possible. Clean sheets are the consequences of doing the right things, not just me, the whole team, so it’s good to have clean sheets because that makes it easier to win games. It’s something that we look for, just to make it easier for us to win games. If you don’t concede goals, it’s obviously easier to win games and it’s easier to get into the last stage of the season with that option to win titles. So that’s what we’re looking for.
Would you say this is your best-ever form?
Well, with the age I am now, and obviously having the two seasons I have behind me at the club already, this is the season where I feel most comfortable and with a lot of confidence to express how I am, and to be myself. The last two seasons have been great too, but I think I’m feeling very good this season as well.
What makes David Raya and Arsenal such a great fit?
It’s the whole lot in a way; it’s where I’m really confident with the style of play. The demands we have here mean that you might not be involved defensively that much, but then you have to appear in the last few minutes of the game and maybe make a save to try to help the team to win the game. That’s something that I try to do as much as possible because you might only have two or three actions, but those two or three actions that you get, you have to save them or go for a cross or go for the ball in behind. I touch the ball with my feet a lot more than with my hands, so I think that combination is why I suit Arsenal.