Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side begin their Champions League campaign against Atalanta on Thursday evening – a night that used to be reserved for the club’s Europa League exploits.
Arsenal supporters probably thought Thursday night football was behind them once Arteta clawed the side back into Europe’s top competition, but here we are.
That being said, Arsenal under-19s will also begin their Youth League campaign away in Italy a few hours before Arteta’s senior side.
Interestingly, none of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly or Jack Porter will be available for the under-19s given they’re with the first team.
Nwaneri has probably made the permanent jump now in reality, but perhaps Lewis-Skelly and Porter will still play with the youth teams on occasion.
That being said, the trio’s absence will present opportunities elsewhere.
Max Dowman set to break 11-year record at Arsenal against Atalanta
14-year-old midfielder Max Dowman is in line to start against Atalanta according to journalist Jeorge Bird.
Dowman is making a big name for himself at the Hale End Academy given the progress he’s made at such a young age.
READ MORE: Jorginho has already explained why starting Arsenal gem Ethan Nwaneri vs Atalanta is a terrible idea
And when Arsenal’s under-19s kick off against Atalanta, Dowman will break an 11-year record at the club.
The midfielder will become the youngest ever player to feature for Arsenal in the competition.
To date, Kaylen Hinds holds the record who featured in the tournament aged 15-years-old back in 2013.
For those interested, 26-year-old Hinds is now playing for Hayes & Yeading in the lower tiers of English football after leaving Arsenal for German side Wolfsburg back in 2017.
Ayden Heaven set for bigger role after Ethan Nwaneri promotion
Incidentally, Dowman will become the second youngest player in Youth League history overall on Thursday too, a record which was beaten on Wednesday by 14-year-old Liam Payas, who plays for Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps.
Among the other notable names set to start for Arsenal under-19s, Ayden Heaven will line up at centre-back, a player who often played for Arteta’s seniors in pre-season.
And in the absence of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, there will be an opportunity for Heaven to take a more senior role, an increasingly experienced head.
Arteta was impressed with Heaven during pre-season, a player the club will hope can eventually bridge the gap to the first team, too.
Two difficult ties for Arsenal in Italy, but regardless of the outcomes, it will be satisfying to see Dowman take a place in the club’s history books, a talent who could go on to achieve so much.
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