Kepa Arrizabalaga has revealed he spoke with Kai Havertz before leaving Chelsea to join Arsenal.
Goalkeeper Kepa has moved to Arsenal after the Gunners activated his £5million release clause.
The Spaniard will be reunited at Emirates Stadium with Havertz, who he played with 57 times when the pair were together at Chelsea.
Havertz has largely impressed since moving to Arsenal in 2023 and Kepa reached out to him before following in the German’s footsteps.
“I spoke with Kai,” he said. “He was with Martin [Odegaard] so we were talking, we had a good chat together and they already started explaining a little bit about how everything works and how good the atmosphere is right now in the changing room. So, I can't wait to join.
“We’re here to win. I think we have a great team. I think we have great staff around here, the best facilities, so we have to prepare ourselves for this season and to have success.
“When I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], they show me their desire to win. They showed me this ambition, how much they want to improve, how much they want to grow and I'm really here to help, to push and to win more.”
Kepa will come in and provide cover for Arsenal No1 David Raya, who he knows from international duty.
The pair have been in Spain squads together and Kepa is excited to work with him at club level.
“He (Raya) is a great goalkeeper and we have a very good relationship,” Kepa added.
“We will compete, we will train together, we will share a lot of time together. We will have competition, as with all the positions in the team, but with the only goal that is to win and be the best ones.”
Kepa has played against Arsenal nine times during his career - but is excited to now call Emirates Stadium his home.
“I’ve come here as an opponent but the atmosphere in the stadium is beautiful,” he said.
“Obviously, it's a big stadium, a top stadium, with big fans. From outside you can see how much they love the club, how much they support the club and this, for a player, it’s amazing to have this support behind you.”
