Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has claimed that everyone at the club wants Max Dowman signed on a professional contract, while praising the youngster’s quality.
The 15-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Gunners so far, having been handed a few appearances from the bench.
Max Dowman’s debut against Leeds saw him become the club’s second-youngest player, only behind Ethan Nwaneri.
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Now, it’s on Arsenal to keep progressing him to take that talent to the next level, and there could be an opportunity coming up.
With Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton, there is an opportunity for Max Dowman to feature, with Mikel Arteta already quizzed on his qualities.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesMikel Arteta praises Max Dowman quality and discusses professional Arsenal contract
Max Dowman could feature for Arsenal against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, marking another opportunity for him to develop.
The young forward has shown fans glimpses of his ability, something Arteta has seen plenty of on the training ground.
Talking to the press before the Brighton match, the manager said on his quality: “If we looked at his passport every day, we would never play him, simple as that.
“But when you look at what he does in training, you have to play him; if not, you are blind, or I’m blind.
“So it is finding a balance, an understanding, especially the load, the things that are changing in his life, and make sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that.
“He is 15 years old, still growing, a lot of things we have to make sure are under control to make sure he develops in the way he can do.”
Dowman recently agreed a scholarship with Arsenal, which will take effect next season, but that won’t stop him from moving away for a small compensation if an offer arrives.
As a result, the Gunners will be keen to get a professional contract agreed for when he turns 17, which will keep him in the team for the future.
On a possible contract, Arteta made an exciting claim about Dowman as he said: “That’s what we all want, and I think what he wants as well. After that, it is more for Andrea [Berta] and the club.
“But the feeling that I have is that, genuinely, he loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well.”
For now, it’s all about Arsenal having patience to get everything done in the right order, from senior opportunities to future contract talks.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesMax Dowman and Arsenal academy stars destroy Mikel Arteta narrative
For a while, there has been a narrative growing at Arsenal that Arteta wasn’t willing to play any academy stars.
Players such as Omari Hutchinson had left the club, leaving many to believe that the Gunners were missing out due to few opportunities.
While the winger is an example of one who did get away, Arsenal fans couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Arteta and his ability to integrate youngsters.
The manager has given opportunities to the talent he believes can make a difference, as we saw with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly last season.
Now, it’s the turn of Max Dowman to join the fray, even if he is still being eased into the senior team at a critical point of his development.
These players are clearly willing to commit to the manager too, as the former two have signed new contracts, while the latter could follow them in the next year or so.