Arteta Challenges Arsenal Young Players To Fight To Achieve The Position Of The Main Team

The young Arsenal players who have been trusted to appear in the first team in the pre-season match (Instagram/@arsenal).

JAKARTA - Mikel Arteta challenged Arsenal young players to get a place in the first team of the season after 15-year-old Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, impressed in a friendly win over AC Milan on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

Bukayo Saka scored his only goal at Singapore National Stadium as Arsenal beat the Rossoeri in front of 22,813 supporters.

Dowman and Salmon made their first-team debuts over the past 25 minutes when Arsenal ended the game with a total of seven academy graduates on the pitch.

"Very happy with all the children. I think they were able to play at that level at the age of 15. In my opinion, this is because of the environment and culture that exist in the team."

"When someone makes you feel so comfortable and confident you can do it right away."

"At least it gives you the best chance and then you have to have the quality to fight a club like this," Arteta said after the game.

Asked if Dowman, who would turn 16, could get regular playing time in the coming season, Arteta did not want to rule out that possibility.

"We don't know about all the young people. In the end they are constantly in and around the team. They are getting used to the dynamics and demands."

"Especially increasing physical levels because the demands they need to perform and have an impact at that level are very high physical standards."

"They are achieving it and that gives them a good foundation. They have to fight hard," said the Spaniard.

Apart from that, Arteta also revealed that Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a slight setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Neither Gabriel nor Jurrien Timber were included in the squad against AC Milan.

"Jurrien, he's still not ready. He's still not fully trained with us. Gabi had a bit of trouble during training a few days ago."

"Because he has been absent for a long time, we also have to arrange it. We have played in Spain, the pitch is different, the conditions are different, going to England, the pitch is different, coming here, again there are many changes. We have to minimize the risk," said Arteta.

Arsenal will next face Newcastle in Singapore on Sunday, July 27, 2025.