The huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have and those players again, after such a long, long time," the Spaniard said.

Teenage prodigy Max Dowman became Arsenal's youngest-ever starter after being named in the club's lineup for Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton.

Read every word from Mikel Arteta's pre-match press conference before we face the Clarets on Saturday in the Premier League

Mikel Arteta has little concern about Real Madrid or any other rival club poaching 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman, despite the young talent not being locked into a senior contract with Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has insisted Ben White still has time to make England's World Cup squad and vowed to give the defender sufficient opportunities at Arsenal to stake his claim. White has not featured for England since leaving the 2022 World Cup early for what the Football Association described at the time as "personal reasons.

With teams facing more and more games, Mikel Arteta suggested not playing some competitions could be a choice clubs make in the future.

Mikel Arteta has urged his players to maintain their levels as we head to Burnley in search of a ninth straight victory in all competitions. Our last six wins have come without conceding a goal and during his pre-match press conference, Mikel said extending that run will require us to be at our best.

Myles Lewis-Skelly said he will never make excuses for failing to be picked - and vowed to "give the gaffer a choice to make" at Arsenal.