Mikel Arteta hints at replacing star player with academy talent next season

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given his strongest indication yet that 15-year-old Max Dowman could be set for a place in the first-team setup next season.

Dowman has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks at Arsenal, catching the eye with a string of impressive performances for the club’s Under-18 side. The attacking midfielder has also trained regularly with the senior squad over the past eight months and was part of the team’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai in January.

Although Premier League regulations prevent Dowman from making his senior debut this season due to his age, the situation is expected to change next term, potentially paving the way for his competitive breakthrough.

Arteta has previously integrated youngsters like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri into the senior squad, and he now believes Dowman could soon follow in their footsteps.

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Addressing questions about Arsenal’s creative options ahead of Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth, Arteta said: “We have a lot of options there—Mikel [Arteta] can play in that position, Declan [Rice], we have Ethan [Nwaneri] there in his main position. We have players that can play in that position, and we have Max [Dowman] coming up very soon as well, so I think we are good in that area.”

When asked specifically about Dowman’s prospects, Arteta added: “For the near future, yeah. Let’s see how this evolves, but we certainly have a big talent there.”

Dowman’s emergence could provide much-needed support for club captain Martin Ødegaard, who has struggled to recapture his best form since returning from an ankle injury sustained earlier this season. The Norwegian was largely ineffective in Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

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Despite Ødegaard’s dip in form, Arteta remains confident the midfielder will return to his previous levels.

“There were many factors,” Arteta explained. “Obviously the injury—the long-term injury—doesn’t help to give you the consistency and the platform to continue in the season. It’s very difficult.

“The level of consistency he’s shown is unbelievable for an attacking player to be constantly there. It’s very rare because there are always ups and downs—especially for players who are very creative and rely on that spark and those moments in games.

“But there are other aspects of his game that remain intact, and he continues to deliver those every week.”

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