Arsenal Supports the Eco-Initiatives of Their Goalkeeper: What 19-Year-Old Aleksey Rojas Proposes.

Aleksey Rojas: The Future of Arsenal

According to The Sun: Aleksey Rojas, the 19-year-old goalkeeper of Arsenal, brings significant changes not only on the football field but also outside of it due to his passion for environmental issues.

The young talent urges the Premier League to include education on sustainable development in the training programs of clubs. He dreams of becoming another graduate of the Hale End academy.

Rojas was born in England to a Colombian father and Russian mother. He consistently trains with the first team and took part in the pre-season tour in Asia.

Call-Up to the Colombian National Team

Recently, Rojas received a call-up to the Colombian National Team for participation in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which starts next month in Chile.

Rojas' father, Fernando, grew up in Bogotá but left Colombia at the age of 21, where he met his future wife, Julia.

The couple settled near St. Albans, and Aleksey played for local teams, including Colney Colts.

A former Chelsea fan, Rojas was inspired by the play of Petr Čech, who previously played for the youth team before moving to Arsenal.

Although he is eligible to play for three countries, Rojas always felt Colombian and aimed to represent his father's nation. His first call-up to the national team occurred in December 2020 for the U-17 camp.

Training with the First Team

In October 2021, at the age of 16, Rojas first joined training with Arsenal's first team. Goalkeepers usually don't get such opportunities at such a young age due to physical limitations, but Rojas continues to impress the coaches.

Since the beginning of last season, he has become a regular member of the first team, training alongside David Raya and new second goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Aleksey has already been included in the squad for several Premier League matches last season and participated in the summer tour, including the first match against Spurs in Hong Kong.

There were earlier discussions about the possibility of loaning Rojas to a League Two or League One club for experience, but Arteta decided to keep him in the first team.

He is now preparing for the Under-20 World Cup in Chile, aiming to become the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The first match will take place against Saudi Arabia on September 30.

Environmental Initiatives

Upon his return in October, Rojas hopes not only to impress Arsenal but also to continue his work in sustainable development. He has always been interested in environmental issues, as his mother works in the energy sector.

«Arsenal seems to be on track to achieve impressive results, and Rojas appears mature beyond his years».

Charlie Wyett from SunSport on Aleksey Rojas

Rojas called on Arsenal to eliminate single-use plastic bottles at training and to implement more education for players of all ages to help save the planet.

He also believes that clubs should be more conscious in energy consumption and called on the Premier League to enhance efforts in raising awareness among young players.

Rojas is an ambassador for the Common Goal organization, which connects football with social change. He also supports Green Football Weekend, which encourages fans to make sustainable choices.

Moreover, he is an ambassador for Charity Boots, which collects used footwear for children worldwide.

Rojas aims to become known not only for his football skills but also as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, as Arsenal already sees potential in him as a promising player who exceeds his years.