Mikel Arteta confirms stance on ‘unbelievable’ Max Dowman ahead of Man Utd clash

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Max Dowman will be considered for first-team minutes after his impressive pre-season displays with Arsenal.

Dowman, 15, has already notched up a remarkable 20 goals and 10 assists in just 25 games for Arsenal U18s, and was taken on the Gunners pre-season tour this summer.

A slew of impressive performances in Asia did nothing but accelerate the hype for the talented midfielder who has already been capped at U17 level for England.

Arteta has often taken a patient approach towards integrating academy players into the first team over the course of his five years in charge at the Emirates.

But the Spaniard admitted that Dowman is already ready for the step up to Premier League football as Arsenal prepare for their league opener against Manchester United on Sunday.

‘Well, he’s going to be in and around the team,’ Arteta confirmed.

‘We’re going to have to manage his development very well, his next steps, and now we are fully connected with everybody in order to achieve that.

‘So [we want to] make sure that we give the platform that he needs, the time that he needs, the environment that he needs, and I’m sure he’s going to push every door towards the first team and have opportunities with us.’

Despite being only 15, Dowman is eligible to play in domestic league and cup competitions, although he will have to wait until he turns 16 later at the end of the year before he can play in the Champions League.

‘Unbelievable Dowman still has much to learn’

After a hectic tour in Asia, Dowman was rested for Arsenal’s final two pre-season games ahead of the new season, but has since returned to training.

And fellow Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino believes the teenager has the world at his feet if he stays grounded and works hard.

‘Max is an unbelievable player for sure, but he’s only 15’ Merino told TNT Sports. ‘So obviously he has many things to learn, many things to improve. And I think he has the right attitude to do it.

‘The good thing is he has the right atmosphere around him. That’s very important in this club.

‘Not only him, but all the other players that are coming up to the first team are doing really good.

‘That’s not only thanks to his qualities or his talent, but also the atmosphere that we generate around the club, the way the guys from the academy prepare them, the way the first team also challenge them to get better.”

‘He needs to want to learn, to want to have his ears open and listen to what the gaffer says, what the other players say, but obviously he’s an unbelievable talent like many players in our academy. So, yeah, we’ll help him for sure.’

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