Mikel Arteta has expressed that he is not worried about rival clubs potentially luring away Arsenal‘s teenage talent Max Dowman before he reaches the age to sign a professional contract.
The 15-year-old player recently agreed to a scholarship deal that begins when he turns 16 on December 31.
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According to FIFA regulations, players cannot sign a professional contract until they turn 17, which means Arsenal must wait anxiously to secure a player who has garnered interest from clubs across Europe.
However, sources indicate to ESPN that Dowman, a lifelong Arsenal supporter, sees his future with the club. Arteta downplayed concerns about the young playmaker leaving during a press conference on Tuesday.
“I don’t dwell on those concerns because everything I’ve heard from both the player and his family has been very encouraging,” he stated.
“We all want him to stay long-term, and I believe he shares that desire as well. After that, it’s up to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to solidify things.”
“The impression I get is that he genuinely loves being here. He is a huge Arsenal fan, and his family is pleased with how things are progressing for him. I hope he will be with us for many years to come.”
Dowman is anticipated to be included in the matchday squad for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Brighton. He did not participate in Arsenal’s under-21s’ narrow 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last weekend.
This will be the England youth team player’s fourth senior appearance, as Arteta balances the need to protect a young star while also providing opportunities to a player who has shone during the club’s preseason tour of Singapore and Hong Kong, in addition to winning a penalty during his Premier League debut against Leeds in August.
“If we focused solely on his age, we would never play him—that’s just the reality,” Arteta remarked. “However, based on his training performances, he deserves to play—ignoring that would be foolish.”
“It’s about finding the right balance and understanding, particularly in terms of his workload and the changes happening in his life, to ensure he can manage it all. So far, he has handled it well.”
“I feel reassured because the plan we’ve set for him over the next few months is unfolding as intended. Whenever he needs game time—whether it’s in the youth cup, with the U23s, or with us—he will get it. He is also getting ample exposure during training with us.”
“We must carefully manage his development. At just 15 years old, he is still growing, and there are several aspects we need to keep in check to ensure he reaches his full potential.”