Max Dowman scored twice as Arsenal beat Ipswich in the Carabao Cup this week, and his manager Mikel Arteta says the 16-year-old could yet go out on loan — though for now the club wants him kept close.
Arteta addressed the loan question directly after the win, telling reporters that the club evaluates Dowman’s progress every six months. The teenager has only played one game this season, and he did not make Arsenal’s matchday squad in the wins over Aston Villa and Sunderland.
Arteta’s Conditions
“We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and impact the team,” Arteta said.
He also pointed to his own path as a teenager. “Particularly, I think I was 17 when I went to Paris [Saint-Germain],” he said. “Depending on the atmosphere that you find there, how much the coach believes in you, you go there just to be part of a squad, not to play minutes.”
He added that the decision depends on “what he needs, where the team is as well, the availability that we have in the squad, the amount of minutes that he’s playing, the quality he’s delivering when he’s got those minutes.”
Dowman’s Record
Dowman became the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer and starter in Arsenal’s title-winning campaign last season. He also became the youngest player in Champions League history, where Arsenal reached the final.
The Gunners have already sent another teenager out on loan this year. Ethan Nwaneri, who broke the record for the youngest ever Premier League player in 2022 at just 15, has been playing for Marseille and Borussia Dortmund, where he is currently based.
What Jay Bothroyd Says
Jay Bothroyd, speaking on Sky Sports News, argued that Dowman is already better than Noni Madueke.
“Noni Madueke is not playing for Arsenal. For me, Max Dowman is better than Madueke now,” Bothroyd said. “If you’re going to consider Madueke for England, then you definitely have to consider Dowman. And Dowman should be in that England squad right now. There’s no doubt about that for me.”
He added that Dowman is 16 but this is his second season as a professional, and that he will be 18 by the European Championships in 2028. “He’s going to be the future of England,” Bothroyd said.
The Case for Keeping Him
Arteta’s comments suggest the club is weighing patience against exposure. Dowman has only played one game this season, and Arteta wants him in the squad before considering a move elsewhere.
The teenager’s one appearance came in the win over Ipswich, where he scored twice. That performance drew attention from his teammates, with Gunners midfielder Mikel Merino comparing him to Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal.
The club’s recent history with young loans shows what happens when a teenager moves abroad. Whether Dowman follows that route depends on the factors Arteta listed:
- What Dowman needs personally
- Where the team is at Arsenal
- The availability that the squad offers
- The minutes he can get
- The quality he delivers when he plays
For now, the message from Arteta is clear. “He’s in a great place. He’s in a good place right now and let’s keep him here,” the manager said.
Source material: “Arteta: Dowman could go out on loan in future,” Sky Sports.
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