Arteta ready to include ‘next Odegaard’ in Arsenal matchday squad

Multiple Premier League academies have approached Arsenal academy sensation Max Dowman’s father to register their interest in his son, according to the Daily Mail.

The 14-year-old cannot sign a scholarship deal with the Gunners until he turns 16 on December 31, 2025, with the earliest point Arsenal can officially sign Dowman to scholarship terms being ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Premier League clubs are monitoring his situation after telling his dad they want him, and first-team manager Mikel Arteta is now open to the idea of having Dowman on the bench for a game before the current season ends.

The teenager, who has been compared to Gunners captain Martin Odegaard due to his playing style, has trained with the first team more than once.

He became the youngest player ever to feature for the club at under-21 level or equivalent after coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Dowman broke the record set by Ethan Nwaneri in the Premier League 2 in the process and has also been widely tipped to break his Premier League record.

The 17-year-old Arsenal midfielder became the youngest player in the competition’s history at 15 years and 181 days when he came off the bench for his debut against Brentford in September 2022.

Dowman made history in the UEFA Youth League in September, scoring against Atalanta aged 14 years, eight months and 19 days.

He became the youngest player to find the back of the net in the history of the European competition.

Arsenal are desperate to keep him after losing Chido Obi-Martin to Manchester United in the summer.

The Gunners also lost Amario Cozier-Duberry, Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters to Brighton, Aston Villa and Luton Town, respectively.

Arsenal are now keen to show Dowman there is a pathway to the first team after the summer exodus.