Arsenal boss Arteta opens up on Max Dowman 

Read every word the Gunners boss said after Arsenal lost 3-2 at home to Villarreal 

Arsenal's return to the Emirates for their first home pre-season game of the summer saw Mikel Arteta's side lose an open game 3-2 against the La Liga side that is destined to feature in this season's Champions League.

Arteta gave seven players their first run-outs in red and white in North London, with Christian Norgaard and Martin Odegaard scoring for the Gunners.

Read on for everything Arteta had to say after the match: 

on if it will take Viktor Gyokeres time to get acclimatised:

We already broke that line today because I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team. He's been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces. So in general, for a lot of players that haven't played many minutes, we have a lot now that they're going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition.

on Kai Havertz’s absence:

Yesterday in training he felt something and this morning he wasn't quite right, so we decided to rest him. I think it's going to be a matter of a couple of days, hopefully the weekend, if everything goes to plan, I think he will be fit.

on Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard:

The three that we lost during the tour, it was Big Gabi, Leo and Richy, and for Saturday I think both of them have a chance, if everything in the next few days evolves in the way that it's been evolving in the last few days.

on Max Dowman’s performance:

He continues to impress, without a doubt. The impact he had in the game again today, the efficiency that he shows in every attack and action, it's incredible. He deserves to have chances and if he continues like this, let's see what happens.

on how long it will take the players to get used to Gyokeres:

I hope days, and every day in training I think he's getting a really good feeling. I think he's getting connections as well outside, which I think is really important with players that are going to help him to get in the position that he needs to get in. On his fitness level, I think he hasn't trained really with the team for two months, so he's done now six or five sessions I think before today, so I think on Saturday again he will take another step and he will be in a better condition.

on Noni Madueke cutting his holiday short to be with the team:

Yeah, without asking about it. He showed a lot of desire to come and join us from day one and I think what he's done is remarkable. I think it shows how much he wants it, how willing he is to put everything that he can to make this work. I think the reception he got from our supporters was brilliant as well. So great, again, another one through the door that has the first experience with us and on Saturday he’ll go again.

on Dowman making an impact at a young age:

The most similar one was Ethan [Nwaneri]. I think it was a different stage there, but he managed it so fast. Even last year when he was training with us, he was doing this kind of thing in training and now he's doing it in the game consistently. So the three or four games that he's played, he's managed to impact and have big moments in the game.

on where Madueke will fit in:

Both sides. I think Noni, when you ask him, he's very comfortable playing right and left so if we want to have inverted footed players, we can do that. He's a real threat, I wouldn’t want to play against him and we want to find something else and playing with natural-footed players, he's going to give us that solution. Today you've already seen a couple of balls that he put in the box, the pace and the quality he can deliver. So, great option.

on if Gyokeres will be 100% ready for the first game of the season:

I think mentally and understanding what he needs to do, he will be 100 per cent or more because he's so willing and so confident as well that he can deliver in a positive way that I have no doubt that he will be in a really good place.

on if he’s happy with our pre-season preparations:

The game on Saturday will be the last one and then that week towards Man Utd will be just preparation. A lot of things, very happy. Today I think the result is painful. I think they were super efficient but we've been naive, especially the way we have defended in open spaces and that's something that, especially the way we play, we have to absolutely nail. Today we haven't been good at all in that department and that has cost us the game for sure.

on if we’re ready to challenge for the Premier League:

I think we've done that in the last three years and that's the next step. We know what it is and we're going to be better. It's like any other team when you look at the competition, the pieces of the puzzle that they've added. They're big ones as well so we're all trying to be at our best and ready to compete to win the Premier League.

on how the players have reacted to Dowman’s involvement:

The reaction is very clear. They have the ball and they give it to him. That tells you how much they trust him and the relationship he's building within the team. I think there’s nothing better than that. The confidence they show to make things happen and the constant connection they have with him.

on if he will feature in the Premier League:

Let’s see how it goes. Let's go into Saturday, into the break as well. He needs a little break as well because he hasn't had any holidays really, so in the next few days he's going to have a break which I think he needs and then he'll probably be ready again to go.

on what lessons and adjustments we’ll make going into the new season:

Every season has been a bit different. Last season for sure showed that availability is something that is absolutely key that has a huge impact on your chances to win the league or the Champions League.

And last season especially, towards the last two or three months of the season, we really struggled with that. I think we made some great decisions to resolve that possible issue with a lot of players that have the capacity to play in different positions at the highest level and I think we are stronger.