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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Dowman Arsenal's latest academy gem</li><li>15-year-old&nbsp;inching closer to first-team debut</li><li>Arteta hails him as a "big talent"</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Mikel Arteta teases debut for 15-year-old Max Dowman as Arsenal boss insists midfielder is 'certainly a big talent'

Premier League

Arsenal

Newcastle

<p>Dowman has been training with Arsenal's first-team for months now, with the youngster drawing comparisons with team-mate Martin Odegaard. Arteta has talked up the teenager once again, but admits they are well stocked in the attacking midfielder department.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He told reporters: "We have a lot of options there [in attacking midfield], Mikel [Merino] 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, we have Max [Dowman] coming up very soon as well, so I think we are good in the position."</p><p>On whether Dowman is part of his plans for next season, he replied: "For the near future, yeah, let's see how this evolves, but we certainly have a big talent there."</p>

WHAT ARTETA SAID

<p>Arteta previously said that Dowman has<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unbelievable-mikel-arteta-hails-15-year-old-max-dowman-admits-restrictions-holding-arsenal-back-furthering-development/blt92cd4e32159eeeb8" target="_blank"> "unbelievable" quality</a> for one so young, but certain "restrictions" are holding back his development. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/02/a-big-big-talent-arteta-excited-by-dowmans-potential-to-be-next-arsenal-star" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, Premier League regulations prevent players who were not 15 at the start of a season from playing, so it seems Dowman will have to wait for his Gunners debut next term.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>While Dowman continues to play for Arsenal's youth sides, the first-team host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Mikel Arteta teases debut for 15-year-old Max Dowman as Arsenal boss insists midfielder is 'certainly a big talent' | Goal.com

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may have teased an upcoming first-team debut for 15-year-old Max Dowman after hailing him as a &quot;big talent&quot;.

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