You played in both the Premier League and LaLiga. How would you compare them?
"I mean, they're both super competitive, of course. I think of every league that I've played in - there's been a few, whether that's unfortunately or fortunately - probably the two most difficult leagues I've been in are LaLiga and the Premier League.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the UK, playing in the Premier League. I mean, back home in Australia, and, and pretty much all over the world, the Premier League is probably the most followed. It has the most financial support, the most interest from all over the world, and you really notice that as well with the level of investment and the TV deals that the clubs have, and, and therefore the resources they're able to use.
"And then obviously here in LaLiga, I really enjoy my football this year with Levante. It's my third time in Spain, and, it's the time where I've actually put the most consistent amount of games together as a starting goalkeeper, and I'm thoroughly enjoying that.
"Obviously, the Premier League, it has a lot of technical players, but I would say the main characteristic is the physicality of it, the speed of it. It's very fast, you don't get a lot of time, and it's very physical. And I think that's also down to the referees, they kind of let a lot go, you know?
"Whereas in other leagues like Spain, for example, someone can kind of just scream like they've been kicked, and maybe they haven't even been kicked or it's just been a little touch, and the referee tends to whistle a lot quicker. And so, therefore, I would find LaLiga not as physical in terms of battling, but it's obviously still competitive, of course. And you have a lot of teams that play football out from the back and a lot of buildup and these types of styles of play.
"Another thing that is a big difference as well is the climate... There is an adjustment for us goalkeepers, for every player; you need to adjust between the different countries. It's obviously a lot drier and warmer further down here in Spain compared to the UK, and that also influences."
Your longest spell was with Brighton, where you made over 120 appearances in the Premier League. What do you remember from the very beginning?
"Yeah, super exciting. I was coming off my period in Valencia where I hadn't been playing so regularly. I'd gone on loan to Genk, and my thought process was that I had a long contract in Valencia, so I went to Genk to play, to get some rhythm, thinking I was gonna come back to Valencia and kick on, you know? But it didn't happen that way, and I remember Brighton came calling through my agent, and I ended up signing there.
"Of course, (there was) all the excitement that comes with being at a Premier League club, and quickly learning about Brighton as a football club. They had just recently built a new stadium and a new training facility and I'd gone to check them out, and (they'd) obviously been promoted, and it was just super exciting, and I really loved my time there.
"I was the most settled. I obviously was there for my longest period at any club, and I remember at the time thinking I could stay there for the rest of my career. You know, I was, I was really happy there."
Was there that moment where you feel like: "Listen, I belong in this league, I should play here. I should stay here"?
"Yeah, I think, I think it's the favourite part of my career until now, playing there in that league at the highest level, you know?
"Of course, I respect every league I played in, they're all difficult, they're all challenging, but just the enormity of the Premier League and playing against the best teams, the best players in the world, the best managers in the world, some of the most iconic stadiums, and all these things, it just ticked every box.
"And the feeling that you get when you have some success at that level against some really good players, whether you're making good saves against them or collectively as a team beating Manchester United or Arsenal or Chelsea or Man City, just the opportunity of playing against them was... You know, there was nothing better.
"And so I was really feeling comfortable there, and it was a little bit of a shame how it all ended, to be honest. But yeah, I just look back on my time there with very fond memories and some of the best moments of my life, which I have locked in the memory bank, and can be very proud of."
Tony Bloom is known as one of the smartest owners in the business, especially in terms of recruitment. Did you ever speak with him directly?
"He came to all the matches and, you know, you would see him here and there, and obviously you go and talk to him and whatnot, but he wasn't around too often. But of course, when I did, I had some nice conversations with him.
"(But) as a player, in those kinds of scenarios when I left... You never really find out the real details in how the situation got to what it was. Obviously, it wasn't like a misconduct thing or a behaviour thing in my circumstance. It was... Yeah, like I said, you don't know whether it was a footballing decision, based on the business side of the club as well, whether it was a personal opinion of Graham Potter - the manager at the moment - or other players coming through and the potential value that they could earn... I still don't have any of those answers today.
"At the end of the day, I tried to do my best and contribute to the success of the club. And during my time, we had plenty of it in staying up and not getting relegated, which for us in especially the first two years, was like winning a trophy, you know? So, you know, there were some great memories in that.
"And like I said, I really wanted to stay there for probably longer than what I was there in the end... because I was really, really, really happy there. But, yeah, such is life."
When you joined Arsenal on loan, what was your first impression of working with Mikel Arteta?
"I remember when I signed there - I was an Arsenal supporter growing up as a kid, and I kind of lost that support for them when we started playing against them when I was in Brighton, because I was like, 'I can't be supporting another team other than the team I'm playing for.' But then I remember signing and sitting there doing my first interview, and I remember looking down and I had a red Arsenal jacket on, and it was a real pinch-myself moment.
"I remember the first phone call I had with (Arteta), I knew I was kind of going in behind Bernd Leno there to begin with and whatnot, but at the same time, I wanted to - you know, I'm ambitious, I want to be playing, I believe I can play at the highest level, and I wanted to kind of ask that question. He goes, 'Look, I can't guarantee that you're gonna play, (but) I think through my managerial career until now, those that deserve to play through showing it on the training pitch, I give them opportunities.'
"So I went in there, and those messages were clear through his actions in the way he set up the team and the changes he made frequently to the team, playing against different managers. And, okay, the first opportunity I got, Bernd Leno got a red card and I played my first match against Aston Villa away - I felt I did well, even though we lost 1-0 - but then my two opportunities I got after that, Bernd was fit for both games and he could have played, but I was just trying to knuckle down and do well, and earn the right to play, and he gave me two more opportunities.
"I actually could have had a couple more, but I got sick one game prior to that, and they didn't play me after this. And also, in the situation at the end with Bernd, there was a little bit of tension between the coaching staff and and him, and they actually said to me on a few occasions, 'If it was just down to the football, we'd be selecting you, but Bernd still has another contract, you're on loan for the minute and we don't wanna cause a problem in the change room or nothing, because we're competing for European football at the end of the season,' and so that's how it played out.
"(Arteta) actually told me as well that he would try and sign me permanently at the end of the season, but that summer, Aaron Ramsdale became available, and we all know how prized the kind of English goalkeeping position can be, because it allows teams to have another foreigner spot and stuff. And obviously they went down that route."
How did you feel in the Arsenal dressing room? Because you were in with Saka, with Gabriel, with Odegaard...
"When I first arrived, there were quite a few comments from staff that they kind of just finished off their clean out of the players that perhaps weren't buying into what Mikel was doing there. So I think Ozil had left in that window. I think Kolasinac had left, I think Mustafi might have ended up leaving in that window as well.
"And anyway, nothing against them, of course, but that was just a few of the murmurs, chit-chats, conversations going on. So it was kind of a refreshed feeling, and it was a really warm environment.
"You hear things about big clubs sometimes, going in there and, you know, personalities to deal with and all these types of stuff, but honestly, it's normal in all the clubs that I've been with. You know, the French-speaking guys will probably stick together, the Spanish, and that is obviously the case, but everyone got on really, really well as well.
"There was the banter that lasts between everyone, and it was a really friendly and warm environment to be a part of. I really enjoyed that."
Arsenal are now top of the Premier League, and still in the Champions League. Do you think they can succeed, and how big will the credit for Mikel Arteta be in this case?
"I think the Premier League is the big one. It's been a while, and they've been there and thereabouts, and they're kind of... I've always had people say to me you kinda need to lose one to win one, and all this type of stuff, and I think the last few seasons they've almost kinda lost two or three or whatever, cause they've been so close, you know.
"I'm confident. You gotta believe. If you don't believe, then you kind of fail at the first hurdle. And they're closer than they've ever been, they've just got this last little push for the end of the season.
"Mikel's done a great job, both having been there personally to witness it myself and from afar. Success speaks louder than any other words, you know? Getting the job done. And they've obviously won a few trophies in the other competitions and all that, and when they hopefully get that Premier League trophy come the end of the season, it's not by coincidence that they've been there or thereabouts.
"It's the hardest industry to be in, of course. It's so competitive, there's no margin for error. You don't even need to make mistakes to get punished at that level. And you've got so many other teams and players and all that competing fiercely in order to win these prizes. You can do everything great and be a great coach and manager and still never win something.
"But at the end of the day, the thing that defines greatness and makes people respect certain individuals even more is getting the job done. So, I'm convinced that once he gets that, that first one, I'm sure it's gonna be the first of many."
You're going through a pretty rough season at Levante, sitting at the bottom of the table. What will it take for you to stay in LaLiga?
"Yeah, we're down at the bottom. We're not at the bottom, there's another team below us. We just need to find two more teams to put below us.
"But, I mean, perspective is obviously a very personal thing. Of course, we're not happy with the position we're in, and we would love to be spending the whole season outside the relegation spots, but in reality now, we're one win away from - depending on the results - getting out of there.
"As long as we don't get relegated, it's been a fantastic season. That's the circumstances in which the club is in at the minute, from having gotten promoted last season. With the challenges a club like Levante also faces with a lack of investments and these types of stuff... coming up from the second division to the first division to try and survive, it's probably the toughest job that there is for a football club.
"So yeah, we've put ourselves in a position now where we have the chance to get safe and achieve our objective, and we're working hard to make that happen."
You've been in good form recently. Do you notice a different mood in the dressing room because of that?
"Of course, when you pick up more positive results, there is a nice feeling, but I think also a massive part of success is how an individual or as a team, how you manage and handle adversity and challenges.
"You know, I'm confident in what I do day-to-day, that I can be my best version, and my best version for whoever I'm representing is good to help them succeed at the highest level. And if not, I take peace of mind in the fact that I'll have no regrets, that I do everything I can to be able to perform at my best....
"I go out, I set my dreams big, our objectives big, because I don't wanna limit myself or our team in what we can achieve, because something is only impossible until it's possible, you know? And I'm a big believer in that, in not wanting to sell myself or the team short.
"And if something doesn't work out, then, like I say, I don't dwell, I don't get too emotional. I look myself in the mirror, and know that I did everything I could to play my best football, or have the best season, or whatever it is, and I can live with that, you know? Of course, it doesn't mean that I like the outcome, but I'm gonna just try to take what I could learn and be even better than the following game or season or whatever it is...
"I think living a life with no regrets and having a career with no regrets, at least for me, is something that just gives me peace of mind and helps me just keep enjoying other aspects of life itself."