Arsenal could allow Max Dowman to leave the club on loan, but only if it supports his development.

The 16-year-old impressed in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Ipswich, scoring twice in a 4-2 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Max Dowman celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Ipswich Twon
Max Dowman put in a superb performance in the midweek win at Ipswich
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Dowman became the youngest player to score in Premier League history last season when he opened his account for the Gunners against Everton.

The teen prodigy was left out of the squad for last weekend’s win at Sunderland with competition for places as fierce as ever at the club.

Earlier this week, Luton Town scout Mick Harford told talkSPORT that the League One club had enquired about taking Dowman on loan ‘a couple of times’ but their advances were rebuffed by Arteta.

Luton are managed by ex-Arsenal star and former Gunners Under-18 head coach Jack Wilshere who has kept a close eye on the star’s development.

But it now appears that Arteta is open to the idea of a loan with the club set to regularly evaluate the player’s needs.

The Dowman plan

“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 is unable to complete any loan move until he turns 17 on New Year’s Eve.

That falls just one day before the winter transfer window opens and that could see Wilshere try his luck once more.

Max Dowman and Mikel Arteta speak on pitch
Arteta will play a key role in where Dowman goes if he does leave on loan
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“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,” Arteta added.

Dowman made 13 appearances for Arsenal last season, picking up a Premier League title medal.

And with such promise shown at a young age, Arteta took a high-protective approach over the academy graduate.

A cautious approach

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

“In my particular case, I was 17 when I went to Paris [Saint-Germain]. It depends on the atmosphere that you find there, and how much the coach believes in you as to whether you go there just to be part of a squad or play minutes.

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

Jack Wilshere
Ex-Arsenal player and coach jack Wilshere may try again in January to bring Dowman to Luton
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Dowman’s heroics at Portman Road would have done his hopes of breaking into the starting XI no harm.

His superb two-goal haul has certainly provided Arteta with some food for thought over the coming months.

“The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office,” Arteta said when asked whether Dowman could feature against Brighton this weekend.

“Then you just leave out the arguments. When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that’s the best way, that’s the best signal for the manager. That’s the best signal for his team-mates, too.

“And what Max did the other day, alongside all the other players as well that haven’t played many minutes this season, was really impressive.”