Arsenal ready to consider Dowman loan move as Arteta weighs next step

Arsenal are prepared to consider sending Max Dowman out on loan if the move is judged to be the right step for the teenage midfielder’s development.

The 16-year-old has already made history for the Gunners, becoming the youngest player to score in the Premier League and for Arsenal last season.

Dowman has yet to feature in the Premier League this term but made a strong case for more opportunities by scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich on Tuesday.

Arteta keeps loan option open

Mikel Arteta remains keen to have Dowman around his senior squad but admits Arsenal will regularly assess whether that remains the best environment for him.

“We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision,” Arteta said.

“It depends on a lot of factors. What he needs, and what the team needs as well, the availability we have in the squad, the minutes that he is playing and the qualities of those minutes.

“We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and to impact the team.”

Dowman completed his GCSEs during the summer and will be eligible for a loan move once he turns 17 on December 31. The January transfer window opens the following day.

Luton manager and former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is reportedly interested in taking the youngster on loan.

Arteta wants Dowman to keep proving himself

Arsenal have not actively explored loan options yet, with Arteta explaining that the club initially wanted Dowman involved in pre-season before assessing his situation.

“We haven’t really listened to any of the possibilities because we were crystal clear that we wanted to have Max in the squad, that we wanted him to be part of the pre-season and then start to see where we are from there,” he added.

Dowman made 13 appearances last season as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

Arteta also pointed to his own experience of leaving home at 17 to join Paris Saint-Germain, stressing that a young player’s success on loan can depend heavily on the environment and opportunities available.

“There have been many cases of that age when they have gone out and been successful and others not,” Arteta said.

“But now he is in a good place, let’s keep him here.”