Mikel Arteta claims that every day in training, Max Dowman proved he was ready to play for Arsenal.
Dowman has quickly become Arsenal’s best attacker over recent weeks, and he could be key during the final few weeks of the season.
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Dowman was superb against Southampton and showed more quality and leadership than any of the Gunners’ other players.
It’s incredible what he is doing at the age of just 16, and his manager has now been speaking about why he has been ready to hand him so much game time.
Mikel Arteta explains why Max Dowman is ready to play for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta claims that Max Dowman’s Arsenal teammates really seem to trust him, which they have shown by all being willing to give him the ball.
Arteta also claimed that Dowman has really impressed him in training and shown each day that he was ready to be trusted in the first team.
When asked how he knew Dowman was ready for first-team action, Arteta told Stan Sport: “Because every day when you see in training, you will agree with me that we need to find a way to play this guy.”
The Spanish coach claims that an indicator whether a young player is ready for first-team action is when their teammates trust them, as Arsenal’s players do with Dowman.
In the FA Cup defeat to Southampton, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz were always keen to get the ball into Dowman, which says a lot.
“The best indicator sometimes is what his teammate thinks of him, and every time they have the ball, they pass it to him. So I think that message is clear. We trust you, and you can make a difference for us,” Arteta added.
Max Dowman should start against Sporting CP
It will be important not to give him too much too soon; however, Dowman should start against Sporting CP.
With Bukayo Saka out injured, Arsenal need a new right winger, and Dowman has already shown he can be better than Noni Madueke.
Dowman is the difference-maker for Arsenal right now, and Arteta needs to trust him in the Champions League.
Sporting will be a very tough test for the Gunners, and the 16-year-old could be key towards giving them the advantage in Portugal.
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