Arsenal Plans For 15-Year-Old Max Dowman To Join First Team Soon
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed he is planning to include 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman in his first-team options in the \"near future.\" The teenage prospect has been training regularly with the senior squad despite still attending school.
Dowman made his debut for Arsenal\'s under-21 team this season but cannot feature in the Premier League until he turns 16 in December. The midfielder\'s rapid progression follows the breakthrough of fellow academy graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
\"For the near future, yeah,\" Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday\'s match against Bournemouth. \"Let\'s see how this evolves but we certainly got a big, big talent there.\"
Academy Integration
The Arsenal manager highlighted the rarity of such young talents breaking through, comparing Dowman\'s situation to Barcelona\'s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi. Arteta credited Arsenal\'s academy staff for their development work with the young midfielder.
\"I think he is in the right pathway and everybody in the academy has done an incredible job to consistently protect him, inspire him, challenge him,\" Arteta explained. \"He is doing the right steps and taking it slowly. He will dictate how fast we go.\"
Arteta revealed he plans to discuss with academy director Per Mertesacker whether Dowman should join the first team\'s pre-season tour this summer. The manager emphasized the importance of balancing trophy ambitions with youth development.
\"You are never going to get it right unless you bring academy players [through] — and win trophies,\" said Arteta. \"If you don\'t do those two things at the same time, you are never going to win.\"
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, 15 points behind champions Liverpool with three matches remaining in their campaign.