Arsenal could save millions on problem area after Mikel Arteta transfer decision

Arsenal have a rich history of producing some of the best young talents in world football – and the club may be about to unleash another superstar.

Max Dowman is a precocious talent – and has been tipped to have a bright future in the game. Born in December 2009, 15-year-old Dowman has wowed those in north London with his performances and Mikel Arteta is planning to include him in the first-team squad for pre-season.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s final-day trip to Southampton, Arteta said: “Max will probably be in and around [the squad] in pre-season, he’s got a busy schedule in the summer because they have a tournament and he’s going to need some rest. There will be a few others from the academy that will be in and around the team – and hopefully we can get a nice beautiful surprise again.”

Dowman, who caught Jack Wilshere’s eye before he left his role as the club’s Under 18s head coach last October, has shone during the 2024/25 season. In fact, he has scored 19 times and added five assists in 23 games this term, with all-but one of his appearances coming for the Under 18s.

An attacking midfielder – who can be used out wide or in a deeper position – Dowman’s performances have been exceptional and it appears he has taken that on to the international stage.

He has been involved for England at the Under 17s European Championships this month – and scored for the young Lions in a 4-2 win against Czech Republic on Tuesday. Dowman’s goal was a thing of brilliance, as he picked the ball up on the byline and glanced past a defender before slipping the ball home from a tight angle.

While Dowman also grabbed an assist in the same game, he couldn’t prevent England from crashing out of the tournament at the group stage. They suffered an immediate exit – after finishing on four points from their three matches – which was the same as second-placed Belgium. The young Lions had an inferior goal difference.

As Dowman is now expected to have a break, due to England’s elimination, his inclusion into Arsenal’s pre-season camp may be earlier than anticipated. So far, the Gunners have pencilled in three games against Newcastle United, AC Milan and Singapore, with those taking place in Singapore and Hong Kong.

More matches are set to follow, and Dowman may be handed the chance to showcase his qualities to Arteta and force himself into his first-team plans before next season. Ethan Nwaneri was handed his senior bow when he was 15, while Myles Lewis-Skelly has become the latest to come through the Hale End system.

And Dowman could now be the next, having been a star performer for the club’s Under 18s and he may be able to save Arsenal millions. If he can make the step up and become a first-team regular in the coming years, the Gunners won’t need to splash out north of £50million on a new attacking midfielder for their squad.

There has been talk that Arsenal are looking for a long-term replacement – and competition – for Martin Odegaard, but a case could be made for the Gunners to wait and see how Dowman is going to develop. He has the potential, there is no doubt about that, to be a world-class player in the future.