Q: What changes have you experienced since your official debut as a high school student in Tokyo one year ago, and now as a professional?
When I was in high school, I practiced for about two weeks before participating in the Levain Cup, and then returned to my high school club activities. Now, as a member of the Tokyo team, I train with the team every day, so I think the environment has changed significantly.
Q: Do you feel any pressure due to the change in environment?
A, soccer has become my job, and I feel that it is up to me to succeed in the future. High school and professional soccer are completely different, and I feel that there are many challenges such as the speed of training and pressure in games. I feel a sense of urgency within myself, but right now I am thinking about what I should do to beat players in the same position and working on individual training after practice while talking to the coach. I want to quickly get used to the intensity of professional player training and be able to showcase more of my own strengths.
Q: I believe you communicated with many players and staff during the camp. There was even a moment when you went to talk to Nagatomo. Would you say you gained a lot from that experience?
A, Tokyo soccer values communication with players on the same side because coordination with surrounding players is required. If there are situations where the timing does not match during play, we immediately discuss whether it was better to open to the side or to drop back into position inside, and prioritize not losing the ball. I make sure to ask immediately if there is something I don't understand. I feel that I still lack the driving force forward in my play, so I am being taught basic training by Nagatomo.
Q, you mentioned communication with the side back players, but is there anything you learn from the play of players in the same position?
A, it is interesting to watch players who fight in the top team smoothly pass the ball. I want to play soccer like that when I enter, so I am reviewing the opening game and learning about the movements of each player and the relationship between the side back and the wing.
Q: Are there any other challenges in your play, Arai-san?
When I was in high school, I often dribbled from my own half, but my playing style has changed and I have increased the number of one-touch and two-touch plays. I am struggling because I did not play like that when I was in high school, so I feel that it is my current challenge. I want to smoothly pass the ball using one-touch and two-touch plays in my own half, and be able to dribble in the opponent's area, which is my strength.
Q: Speaking of your strengths, what do you think is the aspect where you are stronger than other players?
I think I am good at making one-on-one moves on the side and crossing after cutting in, so I want to make plays that lead to goals when I enter the game while sharing that with my teammates.
Q: Including your off time, are there any players you often communicate with and are close to?
Recently, I have been spending a lot of time with Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI. They take care of me and take me out to eat. Since Matsuki is not participating in national team activities right now, I am with Abe almost every day.
Q: I also see you practicing with two other players, but it seems that Arai-san has a strong impression of practicing one-on-one with the coach. Do you approach the coach yourself?
A: Sometimes I do approach the coach myself, but recently Head Coach Anma has been conducting training instructed by Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA. Previously, I used to practice pass and control every day with Kei KOIZUMI and Abe, setting a fixed number of repetitions.
Q: In your individual practice, do you focus on training the areas you feel you are lacking?
A, yes. Recently, I have been practicing direct passes with Coach Yukihiko SATO. The grass on the professional field is slippery, making it difficult to execute direct passes, so I asked Coach Sato to start with basic training and work on it.
<Practice match, Yuta ARAI receiving instructions from coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA>
Q, on the player profile page of the website, they mentioned Kuryu Matsuki as one of the players who influenced them.
Player A, Matsuki, often talked to me and took care of me since last season. Now, I feel the difficulty of performing well in my first year, so I respect Matsuki who has been playing confidently since his first year last season, and I also think I have to do my best. There is a lot to learn from Matsuki, so I want to listen to him and connect it to my own growth.
Q, what specifically have you learned from Matsuki?
A, it's the mental part. I thought that during the game, it was customary to add "san" or "kun" to the seniors when speaking, but Matsuki calls the players by their first names, showing a strong mindset and strong mental attitude. In addition, I feel his courage and mental strength in scenes where he encourages his teammates and gets heated when fouled by the opponent. I think it's really amazing because it's a part that I lack, so I want to strengthen my mental game.
Q, changing the topic a bit, you mentioned Mahrez as your favorite player in your profile. Do you regularly watch the Premier League?
I often watch Manchester City's matches. Tokyo and their playing style are similar, and I think Coach Albert also showed us footage of Manchester City's matches during last season's camp, so I watch them because I want to play that kind of soccer. There is a lot to learn from foreign players, and I became a fan after watching moments where the left-handed Mahrez player scored or assisted. He is not a very physically strong player, but I hope to imitate his technique of shifting slightly with his left foot to take a shot.
Q, please tell us about your future vision.
First of all, I want to achieve results in Tokyo and then try playing football overseas. But my priority is still to succeed in Tokyo.
<Yuta ARAI, who is training at the Kodaira Ground>
Q, the league has started and the Levain Cup is also beginning. How do you feel about approaching it?
A, I have a strong desire to score as long as I get the opportunity to play, and I also have a strong desire to help the team win. I want to participate in the Levain Cup and achieve results, and I also want to be involved in the league matches. First of all, once I get the chance to play in a match, I want to score a goal and make an impression.
Q, from the opening match, the limit on the number of spectators was lifted, and vocal cheering became possible. After watching the opening match, has your desire to play football in that atmosphere grown stronger?
I have had the experience of cheering at the stadium with my relatives when I was a primary school student. I have always remembered to work hard and have been practicing on my own with the hope of someday standing on that pitch myself, so I want to fulfill that dream. I think that atmosphere is amazing, and I think it would be the best to be able to play in it. To play in that place, I think I have no choice but to appeal through my daily practice and practice matches, so I want to continue my efforts.
Q, the Levain Cup is expected to be a topic for young players' participation, but do you have any rivals outside of Tokyo players, Arai?
A, it is Kenji FUKUDA and Ranjin HIROI. The two of them became friends when they played together in the high school selection team in their first year of high school. I have been playing for three years in high school with the determination to never lose to them, and that feeling has not changed. I still want to achieve better results than them.
Q, I think the fans and supporters are also looking forward to seeing Arai's play. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, when I get the chance to play in a match, I will give my all and do my best to contribute to the team. Thank you for your support.
