"One day that could be me on that big stage."
Arsenal academy graduate Charles Sagoe Jr has been inspired by the exploits of his club-mates over recent months.
Spurred on by the Gunners' first Premier League triumph in 24 years and then stirred by Declan Rice and, wingers like himself, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke playing for England at the World Cup.
"It's very motivating for me, seeing players in similar positions to myself performing at the highest level at the World Cup," the 21-year-old tells Sky Sports.
"Winning the league, as well, I feel like it's given everyone at the club that boost of motivation to keep on pushing. Especially coming through the ranks at the academy, it gives you that drive to keep on pushing because one day that could be you in that position."
Sagoe Jr is speaking from Sweden, where he is on a season-long loan with Kalmar.
It's an unusual move which has taken the left-sided attacker from the hustle and bustle of London life to a small city on the Baltic Sea. It's certainly a different lifestyle.
"When I'm out, people will just say hi to you," says Sago Jr, who has been struck by the warm welcome he's received. "Sometimes in the London culture, everyone keeps to themselves, they have their headphones on, but everyone's really friendly in Sweden."
The food is different, too. "They're big on their fish," he laughs. "There's loads of traditional dishes that I can't pronounce!"
Sagoe Jr was encouraged to take this less-travelled path after a chat with Madueke, who enjoyed his own adventure abroad at PSV in the Netherlands earlier in his career.
"I spoke to Noni and he said about when he went abroad to PSV and how he had a smile on his face," said Sagoe Jr.
"'Go out there and just play with freedom...' When he told me that, it gave me confidence to go outside my comfort zone and really express myself."
The plan was for Sagoe Jr to rack up minutes and experience in the Allsvenskan, a league which has previously provided the platform for young players to develop.
There is support from Arsenal in the form of advice on nutrition, analysis of his matches and guidance about adapting to life abroad. And it's a switch which is paying off.
Sagoe Jr has eight assists and a goal from his 13 league appearances, ranking him second in the assists chart.
He made his Arsenal debut in a Carabao Cup game with Brentford in 2023 - "That memory will forever live with me" - but after loan spells at Swansea and Shrewsbury Town, the attacker is now taking another important step forward.
"I'm really able to buckle down and really concentrate and it's strictly football," he says.
"I'm trying to really evolve my game and I feel like I've had that opportunity to do so here because they've been very fixated on some of the things they feel like I can work on. I'm a willing learner!"
Those areas of focus? "I want to really improve on end product. I feel like as a winger, you're going to have to deliver goals and assists to really affect the game and that's something I've really had to lock in with the coaching staff out in Kalmar.
"Also working on my different combinations of play to beat my men and my variation of crossing as well."
With focus on the field, role models to look up to and the platform to show what he can do, Sagoe Jr's season in Sweden is an intriguing story to follow.