Arsenal keeper Rojas achieved rare honour and is making waves off pitch

ALEXEI ROJAS has already been making a huge difference off the pitch due to his passion for green issues.

Now, Arsenal’s promising 19-year-old keeper, who has even lobbied the Premier League to include sustainability education at all clubs, is dreaming of becoming the latest player to emerge from the club's Hale End academy.

5 Alexei Rojas began training with Arsenal's first team aged 16 Credit: INSTAGRAM@ALEXEIROJAS1

5 The goalkeeper has shown immense promise in recent years Credit: GETTY

5 Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes the future is bright for the young Rojas Credit: Getty

Born in England with a Colombian father and Russian mother, Rojas is now training permanently with Arteta’s first-team squad and was on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia.

Rojas has just been called up by Colombia to play in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile which starts next month.

Rojas’ father, Fernando, was raised in Bogota but left Colombia aged 21 before eventually meeting future wife, Yulia.

The pair settled near St Albans to start a family and Alexei would play for local teams in that area, including London Colney Colts, which is the village where the first team train.

A Chelsea fan as a youngster, Rojas’ hero was Petr Cech and he played for the Blues’ development squad before switching over to Arsenal .

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Jordan Pickford are other players whom Rojas has always studied with a keen eye.

Despite being eligible to play for three countries, Rojas has always felt Colombian, so he was always determined to play for his dad’s nation.

His first call-up was in December 2020 for the under-17s and he has been part of the youth set-up ever since.

5 Alexei Rojas was part of Arsenal's pre-season tour Credit: GETTY

In October 2021, aged just 16, Rojas was invited to train with Arsenal’s first team for the first time.

It is rare for a young keeper to train with the first team at such an early age due to obvious physical issues.

But Rojas continued to impress and since the start of last season, has been a permanent fixture with the first-team.

Now, he is training alongside David Raya and new No.2 keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga .

Rojas was named in the matchday squad for some Premier League games last season before going on tour in the summer , which included a first-ever match against Spurs outside England , with that friendly in Hong Kong.

There was a possibility that Rojas could have been loaned out to a League Two or League One club to gain experience this season, but Arteta wants Rojas to remain with the first-team squad.

But now, Rojas is preparing for the Under-20 World Cup in Chile and his mission is to be the best keeper at the tournament.

The first game is against Saudi Arabia on September 30.

Yet when he returns in October, he will not only look to impress at Arsenal but will continue his hugely impressive work off the pitch.

He has always been interested in sustainability as his mum works in the renewable energy sector.

5 Alexei Rojas is trying to make Arsenal a more eco-friendly club Credit: GETTY

Arsenal look to have a hugely impressive individual who is mature beyond his years."

Rojas has urged Arsenal to remove single-use plastic water bottles from the training ground and to introduce more education to players of all ages about helping to save the planet.

He also believes clubs should be more sensible about their energy use.

He has told the Premier League that they should also be doing more to promote awareness, particularly with younger players.

Rojas is an ambassador for Common Goal, an organisation that connects football with social change.

The 6ft 1in keeper has also promoted Green Football Weekend, which encourages fans to make more sustainable choices and to also go for vegetarian alternatives.

And he is an ambassador for Charity Boots , who collect worn boots and redistributes them to children around the world.

Ultimately, Rojas wants to become known for his football and to become one of the Premier League's best keepers.

Even though he is a teenager, Arsenal look to have a hugely impressive individual who is mature beyond his years.