Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan is strictly on-loan - for now.

Arteta was asked about the Australian's prospects of permanent deal yesterday.

“He is a player who knows the league really well," Mikel Arteta said.

“He has played so many games, he has international experience, he is at the right age, he has been competing regularly until December I think, and we felt with the departure of Matt Macey, we needed another keeper in the team to give more protection so we looked at the market and we wanted a loan deal and we decided to go with Mat because he had the right profile for us.

“That area of the squad needs three goalkeepers and they need to compete with each other, challenge each other and everyone will get their role.

“After you have your role, you just have to support each other again to get the best out of each other. This is the role, come here and try to make it better."

So could Ryan's loan deal be turned permanent in the summer?

“I don't know, he's just arrived," Arteta added. “It's a loan deal and he still has a contract with Brighton and we will assess to see how he performs, see how he adapts, what we need in the future. It's still too early to decide."