ALBION No.1 Mathew Ryan has warned Arsenal: “We will not be overawed.”
The Australia No.1 believes the Seagulls have grown up in the Premier League and are ready for Sunday’s big away test at the Emirates.
They have taken seven points from four games since losing at home to Manchester City on the opening day, then at Leicester.
Ryan told The Argus: “Not only that (City) game, but all the games leading up to where we are now, I feel like we are a different team from the beginning of the season.
“In saying that it’s normal as well – new players coming in, a big jump to the Premier League from the Championship, a first time for a lot of the guys and the first match against Manchester City with the players they have.
“In that game and perhaps the Leicester one we were a little bit in awe of everything.
“There were a couple of moments where we were a little bit raw and inexperienced, but since then I’ve felt we’ve come along in leaps and bounds. Our understanding as a team is getting better and better and we feel like we are making a lot of progress.”
Ryan, who faced Real Madrid and Barcelona with former club Valencia, will not be trying too hard to become the first opposition goalie to keep a clean sheet at Arsenal in the Premier League since Middlesbrough’s Victor Valdes 11 months ago.
He said: “There’s no doubt coming up against an established name like Arsenal, renowned throughout the whole world of football, is a nice game.
“But in my experience in big games, perhaps in the past when I was a little bit younger and less experienced, I would think I’ve got to do something inhumane to match with these guys.
“That’s been a little bit of an error on my behalf in the past. You’ve just go to continue going out there and doing what you have done in order to put yourself in this position.
“I’m just going to do my best, let my instincts take over and contribute to the team as best I can. Hopefully we get a little bit of luck on the day, which always helps, and we can provide a tough game for them.”
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