Setford: First month at Arsenal was tough
Today at 03:34 PM
Tommy Setford believes Arsenal is the ‘perfect place’ for his development, though he admits his first month at the club was challenging.
The 19-year-old joined from Ajax in July and, with a shortage of goalkeepers, was quickly included in Mikel Arteta’s squad for the USA tour.
Alongside fellow newcomer Lucas Nygaard and academy prospect Alexei Rojas, Setford was one of three teenagers providing backup to Karl Hein. However, with Hein departing on a season-long loan, the England youth international has since become Arsenal's de facto third-choice keeper.
All in all, it’s been a whirlwind couple of months for a player who has also had to come to terms with a whole new playing style, as well as life in a new country.
“Honestly, the first month at Arsenal was one of the toughest periods of my career,” he told Arsenal.com.
“The intensity of the training and learning the principles of goalkeeping here was a lot to take in. I had to adapt quickly, but now I'm getting the hang of it. I'm feeling more settled, my performances are becoming more consistent, and I'm doing well.
“Going on the US tour with the first team was an amazing experience. I'd never been on a tour with Ajax, so it was all new to me. The first-team players and staff were very welcoming, which made it easier for us younger players such as Ethan Nwaneri, Josh Nicholls and Ayden Heaven to feel comfortable.”
Had it not been for an untimely hip injury, Setford would have made his debut in last month’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Bolton, further cementing his place in the pecking order. Instead, the spot went to 16-year-old Jack Porter, who stepped in with David Raya nursing a muscular problem and Neto cup-tied.
While it’s likely Setford found the situation frustrating, he knows that if he can regain fitness, another opportunity could come his way when the Gunners face Preston North End in the next round at the end of October.
He’s also aware that his move to Arsenal was about long-term development not short-term gains.
Reflecting on the build-up to his transfer, he said: “It came about around three to four months ago. I was told Arsenal were interested and, soon after, one of the scouts flew to Amsterdam to meet me.
“We talked for about two hours about the club and their plans for me. Then I visited the training ground, met the academy goalkeeping coaches, and from that moment, I had a really good feeling.
“I knew in my heart that Arsenal was the right move for me. I wanted to take the next step in my career, and I believed Arsenal would be the perfect place for me to develop further, especially with the opportunity to play in England.”
As for his goals for the rest of the season, he added: “My main goal is to play as many games as I can for the Under-21s and have a consistent season.
“If I get more opportunities with the first team, I want to prove myself on the big stage and show the coaches and fans that I'm ready for Premier League football.”
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