Det Supt Steve Naylor said: “This is the culmination of eight months’ hard work, and the arrests are of those we people we suspect were responsible for Joseph’s murder.

“Joseph had never been in trouble with the police.

“It was an unprovoked attack. Callum fortunately survived. This was a really nasty offence.

“They did not bring this on themselves.

“We have a responsibility to Joseph’s family and to the public of Merseyside.

“A significant amount of work will be going on after these arrests around north Liverpool.

“The public have grave concerns about knife crime and gun crime, and this murder brought it home to many people.”

On the evening of the murder, Joseph managed to stagger back inside the youth club after the attack, but he died later at the scene.

The Cardinal Heenan pupil was set upon in an unprovoked assault on his first visit to the venue to watch a friend’s band perform.

Joseph and Callum had been friends since they were at nursery school, and Callum was teaching Joseph how to play guitar.

The 10 men and youths can be held for up to 24 hours before a request can be made for further time to question the suspects.

Anyone with any information about the murder should contact police anonymously at Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.