Arsenal signed Mat Ryan and here is his first words as an Arsenal player after completing loan move from Brighton.

Mat Ryan has spoken his first words as an Arsenal player admitting the whole move feels "surreal" having been a Gooner since childhood. It was confirmed earlier on Friday that the Australian would be joining the Gunners from Brighton for the remainder of the season on loan. Ryan had been first choice for three seasons at the Amex but lost his place to Robert Sanchez this campaign. He will now provide competition to Bernd Leno in Mikel Arteta's squad for the remainder of the season.

It's a dream come true for Ryan who revealed earlier that he was a boyhood Arsenal fan. "Yeah quite simply a dream come true," he told Arsenal.com. "You know Arsenal was my childhood club that I followed as a kid and to be sitting here right now representing them is something that I never thought would become a reality, but I'm very thankful it has. "There's still an aura of surrealness to it all to be honest. I'm really proud, it's great and it's hard to sort of put in to words the emotions and the feeling that this is becoming a reality.

"All those mornings as a young kid in Australia, getting up to watch the Champions League games and all of that at four o'clock in the morning when I had school and these types of things. "The support back in the Thierry Henry and Denis Bergkamp type of days, to now be here fills me with a great sense of pride and achievement. The confirmation of the move came more or less out of nowhere and the Australian also revealed how quickly the Gunners had moved to get there man. "I probably first found out about the real interest maybe a week or so ago," said Ryan. "As far as I knew at that stage it was still a long way off happening and I wasn't even sure if that was the direction that the club would take."

"Probably in the last two days it's become more of a reality. Having spoken with the likes of Edu, Mikel himself and Inaki (Cana) the goalkeeper coach, as well yesterday that's when it all started to feel like it would eventuate." Ryan revealed that those conversations were a big part in convincing him to come to the Emirates. "A huge deal of respect from them in paying attention to what I've done in my career until now and really seeing a lot in me that they feel could benefit the club also. "(They said) that as long as I continue on my path and continue with my approach, that hopefully I'll be able to earn some opportunities to get out on the pitch."

The 28-year-old is expected to act as back up to Bernd Leno during his time with Arsenal, but he revealed that he has no intention of settling for second best. "I'm looking forward to coming in here and working with Bernd, Alex, Karl and the other keepers. I'm looking to work hard together and push one another to help ourselves as individuals to become the best that we can be and, ultimately contribute to the club and its success moving forward." "I've never been a goalkeeper where I've liked to sit on the bench. I'm sure every goalkeeper says that. "But I've come here knowing the circumstances where Bernd has obviously done a great job for the club in his time since he's arrived. He's a very top-quality goalkeeper.

"But I believe I've shown that in my career also. I'm looking to come in here and push him and him push me and like I said try and get the best out of one another and help us improve as individuals." The former Valencia and Club Brugge stopper also revealed what fans can expect from him during his time at the club. “I’d say on the field it's probably my reliability as a goalkeeper,” Ryan said. “I feel like I'm quite consistent with my performances. “I dedicate every aspect of my life to playing football and trying to win football games for whoever I am representing, be it the club or the national team in Australia. So that willingness to win and to go the extra length to do that is probably the main driving force behind me.