Former Arsenal starlet, once compared to Bukayo Saka opens up about his injury recovery and Championship ambitions.

Former Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry has expressed his determination to take the next step in his career.

The 19-year-old, previously likened to Bukayo Saka by Arsenal Under-18s coach Jack Wilshere and labelled "exciting" by Mikel Arteta, is setting his sights on cementing a place in the Championship.

After seeing his pathway to the first team blocked, Cozier-Duberry joined Brighton this summer after his contract expired at Emirates Stadium.

He rose through Arsenal's academy ranks and was considered one of the top prospects to come out of Hale End in recent years.

"Amario is very exciting, and Mikel [Arteta] likes him,” Wilshere told The Athletic.

“He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.

“In some moments he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you’ve got individuals like that you’ve got a chance.”

Currently on loan at Championship side Blackburn Rovers, Cozier-Duberry has played just 71 minutes in 15 matches, but remains optimistic for the future after recovering from injury.

“Injuries come, they happen and it’s football. I’ve just had to kick on with my rehabilitation. It’s not something you can spend too long dwelling over,” he told Brighton’s official website.

"I’ve got more to come but I’d like to think that I’ve made a good first impression. I want to kick on from that now and show what I can do. The next step is to be starting games in the Championship and to do as much as I can."

“There are a lot of games in the Championship, and I’m definitely looking forward to it and hopefully getting a good run of games. The Championship’s exciting, and I’m enjoying it, even watching the games," he added.

Cozier-Duberry wasn’t the only youngster to leave Arsenal last summer, with highly-rated Chido Obi-Martin and Reuell Walters both moving on in search of regular first-team football and new opportunities to develop their careers.