JOSH Vickers says staying at Concord Rangers until the end of the season will be hugely beneficial to his long-term development.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper has been a storming success at the club since he joined on loan from Arsenal in November.

And having kept four clean sheets in 13 games so far, Vickers is now hoping he can continue to progress under the guidance of manager Danny Cowley.

“I am really pleased to stay,” said Vickers, who lives in Noak Bridge and went to the Billericay School. “It is something that has been in the offing for a while. Danny Cowley was keen to keep me at the club and I am very happy to stay.

“It is more beneficial for me in the long-term and Arsenal wanted me to stay until the end of the season anyway.

“I am always in touch with the Arsenal goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts. I know he gets down to watch me whenever he can, but he is a very busy man. But Concord and Arsenal have been in contact from the very beginning.”

And Vickers feels the move will benefit him in the long run, when he returns to Arsenal in a bid to force its way into the first team.

“I feel stronger as a player and a person,” he continued. “Being in match situations every Tuesday and Saturday for much of the season has really helped my development.

“I feel fitter as well. Although I had a bad touch of the flu over Christmas I am back now and feel physically fitter.

“I am getting used to playing in these different conditions too. The (3-1) defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Trophy was hard because of the wind. It can’t necessarily win you the game but it can lose you a game.

“It is disappointing because we would have had Torquay United at home if we had got through, but Hemel are a good side and good luck to them.”

Vickers spends his week training at the Premier League side, while playing matches for the Beach Boys.

And he believes that is the perfect combination.

“I still train with Arsenal but I play with Concord so I get the best of both worlds. To train with the goalkeepers at Arsenal and then play men’s football has worked really well for me.

“In fact, these last two years have been really great for me. Playing at Canvey and now at Concord means I have played about 80 games of men’s football. And this is a great stepping stone for me.

“As for beyond this season, it would be good to maybe link up with a Football League club and play some professional football.

“That would be the next step for me but the dream is forcing my way into the Arsenal first-term set-up. I have been at Arsenal since I was seven years old and would love to play for the first-team someday.”

Vickers also had his say on the current goalkeeping situation at the Gunners. First-choice stopper Wojciech Szczesny has been replaced by David Ospina in Arsenal’s last two league games, but Vickers maintains Arsenal have two first-class goalkeepers at the club.

“Ospina did well against Stoke. You can’t argue with a clean sheet but you cannot doubt Wojciech’s ability. He is a great goalkeeper and I am sure the manager will pick who he thinks is best for the team.

“They have been great for me. People forget they are just normal people too. They are always people you can go to and have a chat with if you need to.”