Socceroo Mat Ryan has realised a childhood dream after joining Arsenal – the team he grew up supporting in the English Premier League – on loan for the rest of the season.
“All those mornings as a young kid in Australia, getting up to watch the Champions League games and all that at 4 o’clock in the morning when I had school – to support back in the Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp days, to now be here fills me with a great sense of pride and achievement.” If he doesn’t get it at Arsenal, Ryan could also be facing a battle to retain his mantle as Australia’s main goalkeeper, amid career-best performances from Mitch Langerak and Danny Vukovic .
“I’m looking to come in here and push him, and him push me, and try to get the best out of one another and help us improve as individuals.“If we can do that, obviously [the person] who’s going to be getting the nod on match day, with the number of games that we have in all the competitions that we’re still alive in, is going to be in the best form and that’s only going to help the team perform better.