Arsenal are already aware of rival Premier League interest in their 14-year-old sensation Max Dowman.
The gifted playmaker is fast earning a reputation as one of the most exciting talents in European football having been fast tracked through the Gunners’ youth system.
Dowman has starred in the UEFA Youth League for Arsenal already this season, playing alongside teammates who are well ahead of him both in terms of age and physical development.
The teenager made his Under-21 debut last week and has regularly been involved in first team training sessions this season.
Mindful of the way in which Chido Obi-Martin was poached by Manchester United in the summer Arsenal are already mapping out a plan to ensure Dowman doesn’t slip from their grasp.
According to Mail Sport, several Premier League clubs have already contacted Dowman’s father to register their interest his son with Arsenal unable to sign the player on scholarship terms for another 16 months.
With that in mind, Arsenal want to show Dowman their is a path into the first team and Mikel Arteta is said to be open to the idea of having the precocious youngster on the bench for a game before the end of the current season.
Arteta has been ciriticsed for being reluctant to rely on young talent in the past but he has shown flexibility this term with both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly featuring prominently.
Tonight’s game against Manchester United, however, will come too early for Dowman with Arsenal having little to no room for error in a title race that is being dominated by Liverpool.
Arsenal have won their last three games in all competitions, scoring 13 goals in the process, and appear back to their best after a tricky run in the absence of Martin Odegaard.
‘That everybody feels important and we’ve been in this situation almost from the start of the season and we always talk about the squad, the importance of everybody feeling important and the quality that we have within that and we’re going to have to continue to adapt to that because with the schedule that we have, every three days, games, until March, it’s going to happen,’ said Arteta discussing his side’s recent form.
‘So, very pleased that the team reacted and the team plays in the way it’s been playing, to win the games that we have done in a really convincing way, it’s very positive.’
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