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?
A: When I was in high school, I practiced for about two weeks before participating in the Levain Cup, 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 my environment has changed significantly.
Q: Do you feel any pressure due to the change in environment?
A: Soccer has become my job, and since my future largely depends on myself, I have come to feel that I must perform well. High school and professional levels are completely different, and I often find myself struggling with things like the speed of pressure during training and matches. I do feel some impatience within myself, but right now, I am thinking about what I should do to surpass players in the same position and am working on extra practice after training while discussing with the coach. I want to quickly get used to the intensity of professional players' training and be able to express my own strengths more.
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's soccer requires coordination with the surrounding players, so I place great importance on communicating with players on the same side. If there is a moment during play when the timing doesn't match, we immediately discuss it, prioritizing not losing the ball. I ask right away whether it would have been better to open up to the side or to come inside and drop my position. I feel that my play still lacks forward momentum, so Nagatomo teaches me basic training.
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, the players competing in the top team pass the ball smoothly, and it’s interesting to watch. I want to play that kind of soccer when I get on the field, so I review the opening match and study each player’s movements as well as the relationship between the side backs and wingers.
Q: Are there any other challenges in your play, Arai-san?
A: When I was in high school, I often dribbled from my own half, but my playing style has changed, and now I use one-touch and two-touch passes more frequently. Since I didn’t play that way in high school, I’m struggling with it, and I see it as a current challenge for myself. I want to smoothly circulate the ball in my own half using one-touch and two-touch passes, and be able to dribble with my own strengths inside the opponent’s area.
Q: Speaking of your strengths, what do you think is the aspect where you are stronger than other players?
A, I think I am good at one-on-one challenges on the side and crossing after cutting inside, so I want to share that with my teammates and make plays that lead to goals when I get into a match.
Q: Including your off time, are there any players you often communicate with and are close to?
A: Recently, I have been spending a lot of time with Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI. They have been very kind to me, taking me out to meals and such. Since MATSUKI is currently away on national team duties, 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: That's right. Recently, I have been practicing direct passes with Coach Yukihiko SATO. The grass on the professional grounds makes the ball slide a lot, making direct passes difficult and hard to get used to, so I have asked Coach SATO to help me start with basic training and have been working 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.
A: Matsuki often talked to me and looked after me since last season. I really feel the difficulty of making an impact in my first year, so I respect Matsuki, who has been playing confidently since his first year last season, and I think I have to work hard as well. There is a lot I can learn from Matsuki, so I want to listen to him a lot and use that to help my own growth.
Q, what specifically have you learned from Matsuki?
A, it’s the mental aspect. I used to think that during matches, when calling out to seniors, you should add “-san” or “-kun,” but Matsuki calls players by their names without honorifics, which shows he has a strong conviction and a solid mentality. Also, in moments when he encourages his teammates or gets fired up after being fouled by opponents, I feel his courage and mental strength. These are areas where I’m lacking, and I truly think it’s amazing, so I want to strengthen my own mentality.
Q, changing the topic a bit, you mentioned Mahrez as your favorite player in your profile. Do you regularly watch the Premier League?
A, I often watch Manchester City’s matches. Their playing style is similar to Tokyo’s, and Albert PUIG ORTONEDA also showed videos of Manchester City’s games during last season’s camp, so I think he wants us to play that kind of football, which is why I watch them. There is a lot to learn from overseas players, and watching Mahrez, who is also left-footed, score and assist made me like him. Although he is not very physically strong, I hope to imitate his technique of slightly adjusting his shot with his left foot.
Q, please tell us about your future vision.
A, first I want to achieve results with Tokyo, and then I would like to try playing soccer overseas. But of course, my top priority is to succeed with 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, as long as I get the opportunity to play, I have a strong desire to score goals and help the team win. I want to participate in matches in the Levain Cup, achieve results, and get involved in the league matches. First, when I get to play, I want to score goals 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?
A, when I was in elementary school, I once cheered at the stadium together with my relatives. I have always wanted to stand on that pitch someday, and I have worked hard without forgetting to practice on my own, so I want to make that dream come true. I think that atmosphere is truly amazing, and it would be the best to be able to play in it. To play in that place, I believe I have no choice but to showcase myself through daily practice and practice matches, so I want to continue putting in the effort.
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, they are players Shio Fukuda and Ranto Hiroi. I was with both of them in the high school selection team during our first year of high school, and we became close. I have always wanted to not lose to those two and have played for three years in high school with that mindset, and that feeling has not changed even now. I want to achieve better results than they do.
Q, I think the fans and supporters are also looking forward to seeing Arai's play. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, when I get to play in a match, I will give my all and do my best to contribute to the team. I appreciate your support.
