Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the academy stars that featured in the 2-1 friendly win against AC Milan yesterday.

While first-teamers Martin Odegaard and Reiss Nelson were the two players that got on the scoresheet out in Dubai, Arteta wanted to single out some of the young talents who also played their part in the victory:

“This win is a good way to close the stage and the camp. I think [the youngsters] have been absolutely brilliant. The boys they’ve been really helpful. The under-18s, the 16s and 21s maintained the level and the standards that we need. I think we competed really well against a really, really good side.”

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Lino Sousa and Amario Cozier-Duberry made it off the bench and helped the Gunners see out the match.

All have had some experience of facing senior opponents, having played in the EFL Trophy for the Under 21s, but none of the four have made their debuts for the first-team yet.

Sousa and Cozier-Duberry have been named as substitutes this season. Sousa was on the bench for the 3-0 win over Brentford in October, while Cozier-Duberry was included in the squad for the first Europa League group game against FC Zurich.

After impressing Arteta versus Milan, all four will be hoping to make their first competitive appearance for Arsenal in the not-too-distant future.