Simon Mignolet is as calm and composed off the pitch as he is on it. They are the qualities which have enabled the Belgian goalkeeper to make such a seamless transition from Sunderland to Liverpool FC.

Some wilt under the pressure and expectation of life at Anfield but Mignolet has flourished following his £9million move.

The sizeable challenge of filling Pepe Reina's boots hasn't fazed him and his dramatic debut, when his stunning late penalty save denied Stoke City's Jonathan Walters, provided the perfect launchpad for his Reds career.

Mignolet has been a model of consistency for Brendan Rodgers' side so far, but there is no danger of the 25-year-old resting on his laurels as he prepares to make his 100th Premier League outing in tonight's crunch clash with leaders Arsenal.

"Penalty saves don't happen often but when it happens on your debut it only makes things easier and it gave me confidence," Mignolet told the ECHO.

"It showed the fans at Anfield that I am capable of doing those things.

"Liverpool fans throughout the years have always loved their goalies and so far things have gone well. It is always nice to have the support of the fans behind you and they have been very good to me.

"From day one when I arrived at the club I felt really welcome, not only inside the dressing room but also around Melwood. Every single person helped me to get settled inside the club and also in the city.

"Here at Liverpool it can happen that you play for 80 minutes without touching the ball then you have to be ready for when the shot comes. Brendan wants his goalkeeper to start the attacks and play from the back, while at Sunderland it was more about saving shots.

"I just try to keep concentration and stay focused on the job I'm asked to do. It is up to me to keep and maintain that level and make sure I produce the performances.

"There is always going to be competition for places. It was the same when I came over from Belgium to Sunderland and Craig Gordon was their No 1. When I signed for Liverpool, Pepe was still there and even though he has gone now, there is still big competition with Brad Jones and Danny Ward.

"I just have to look at myself and make sure I train the best that I can day in, day out. Competition keeps you sharp. It can only make you better as a goalkeeper."

Mignolet admits Liverpool head for the Emirates full of confidence following last weekend's 4-1 thrashing of West Brom. You won't catch the shot-stopper making any bold predictions about what Rodgers' men could go on to achieve this season, but he  views tonight's showdown with  the Gunners as a golden chance for the Reds to showcase just  how far they have come.

"When you come into a club you want to win games and you want to do well. We have got off to a good start but now it's a case of making sure we continue in that way," said Mignolet, who was speaking at the launch of Battlefield 4.

"We have a very good squad who work well together and we have to make sure we keep the same level of fitness and the same professional attitude.

"It's not important now to be thinking where we are going to end up at the end of the season. We can only look to the next game and make sure we get out of that what we want.

"We've got a big game to look forward to and the job in hand is to do well at Arsenal.

"I don't really think we should see this game as a test, I think we should see it as an opportunity to do well. It's first against third in the league and we could go back to the top of the table."

It promises to be a busy night for Mignolet and opposite number Wojciech Szczesny.

Liverpool (57) and Arsenal (53) are the top-flight's highest scorers in 2013 and the stage is set for an open game.

Much will depend on the Reds' ability to deal with the attacking threat of the likes of Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey.

If they can be contained then Mignolet knows Liverpool have the firepower in the form of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge to secure only a second win in 10 trips to the Emirates.

"Arsenal are a very good team and have had a very good start as well," he said.

"They have players scoring goals like Ramsey, while Ozil has come in and given them that ability to create chances.

"We know they have a lot of quality in the team, but for us it's more about looking at ourselves and what we do. We've been working on things in training this week and hopefully we can put that into practise.

"Everybody knows the quality that Luis and Daniel have and they have a very good partnership. Hopefully they can keep doing that throughout the season.

"We know that they are always going to create and score goals so it is important for us to make sure we don't give away any chances at the other end."

Suarez is looking to become the first Liverpool player ever to score at Arsenal in three successive league visits, while Sturridge could equal the club record of scoring in seven successive away league games - a feat last achieved by Sam English in 1933.

Mignolet is just relieved that these days he only has to face the prolific double act at Melwood.

"They are the best strikers I've ever come up against," he said.

"If you see the chances they create and the quality of their finishing, not only in the games but also in training, you can see what kind of level they are at.

"Being a goalkeeper up against them every day in training can only make you a better goalie.

"Touch wood, Daniel hasn't chipped me yet like he did against West Brom. But they always score good goals in the finishing drills.

"They are in great form. If Luis and Daniel score then so much the better but for us the most important thing is to be winning games.

"Things are going well but a good start to the season doesn't mean anything if you don't build on it. We have to make sure we keep doing the things we are doing and keep playing  in the same manner."

Source: Liverpool Echo