Hector Bellerin almost left Arsenal on loan earlier this season before cementing his place in the first-team after an injury to Mathieu Debuchy, the right-back said.
Bellerin, 20, spent time on loan at Watford in 2013-14 and with France international Debuchy and £16 million summer signing Calum Chambers ahead of him in the pecking order, things looked bleak for his prospects in the first-team.
However, the former Barcelona defender was handed a chance after both suffered injuries and made his Premier League debut in October. Since then he has not looked back and Sunday saw him complete his 25th appearance of the season in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
"If someone would have told me that this was a position I would do well in this season, I wouldn't have believed them," he told the club's official website. "I was really close to leaving on loan again and was talking to the coaches about where to go next season but it turned out way differently.
Now Bellerin has establish himself in the Gunners' starting lineup, he isn't ready to give it up now Debuchy and Chambers are fit again.
"I definitely want to remain first choice -- that's what any player wants to do, week-in, week-out, in any position," he added.
"Mathieu has shown that he's a great player but he's been really unlucky with injuries. It's going to be a good fight.
"The spirit is really good between us in the dressing room so I think it's really positive that, in every single position, there's loads of top-quality players who need to fight for their spot. The fact that there's a good spirit gets the best out of everyone."
The Spanish defender also thanked manager Arsene Wenger for giving him the chance to prove himself.
"There were a few not-so-good performances at the beginning but then I was really happy that the boss gave me the chance to show people what I had in me," he said.
"I think I've been more comfortable in the last few performances -- from the beginning of the year onwards -- and I'm really enjoying my football.
"We're still fighting for the second spot and we're in the FA Cup final. Everything has been a surprise to me and I'm really, really enjoying it. I knew that I was going to work hard wherever I was, fight for a spot wherever I was, and that's what I did. I got my chance and I think I took it."