Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reinforced his firm stance on maintaining high standards at Arsenal, admitting he held teenage prospect Max Dowman strictly accountable following a recent full-time encounter.

Speaking ahead of the Gunners’ high-stakes Premier League clash against Liverpool, the Arsenal manager made it clear that youth status offers no exemption from squad discipline.

Reflecting on the competitive environment required at the top level, Arteta emphasized that young talent must adapt immediately to the harsh demands of professional football.

“This is the environment, this is the reality. We are not in Disneyland, we are in the Premier League. We look after him so much, but at the same time we’re going to be demanding, because he needs to earn the right to play, just like everybody else, because the other boys, what are they going to say to me?

“You need to be fair.. and when we don’t win, I’m p***** off. My reaction came from a moment of heat and extreme frustration, because I know the consequences of that, especially for Max.

“It’s something we discussed just before we went out because it’s not the first time it’s happened, it happened another time with the England Under-19s. And it’ll continue to happen because of the way he plays and the way he attracts opponents and that’s it.”

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