Mikel Arteta should be really worried about Arsenal after seeing what Max Dowman did vs Villarreal

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Mikel Arteta handed Max Dowman minutes in his fourth consecutive pre-season game.

The 15-year-old was introduced at the Emirates just after the hour mark against Villarreal.

Dowman has been electric in pre-season and continued the trend during Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Villarreal. 

Arsenal will want to manage Dowman’s minutes, as expected for a player of just 15 years old, but such might leave Arteta with a bit of a problem. 

• READ MORE: Who is Max Dowman? Meet the Arsenal wonderkid who has broken records and impressed Mikel Arteta

Max Dowman was Arsenal’s best winger against Villarreal

Like the other pre-season friendlies, Dowman was a talking point after the clash against Villarreal.

The teenager gave Arteta a bit of a headache, as, by the time the full-time whistle blew, it became apparent that the youngster was head and shoulders above the other wingers on show for Arsenal.

Though Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli started the match, it was Dowman who brought the most excitement and, more importantly, the most impact to Arsenal’s attack.

In just 28 minutes, Dowman attempted more dribbles than any of Arsenal’s other wide players, taking his man on eight times, being successful on three occasions.

Though Arsenal couldn’t win the game, the margins were narrowed by Martin Odegaard from the spot, a penalty that Dowman won with his bursting run into the box. 

Pre-season won’t see players produce their best performances, but Arteta will surely have some concern about how his 15-year-old protégé left his teammates red-faced with his brief cameo.

Mikel Arteta wants Dowman to have a break

With ten days to go until the season kicks off at Old Trafford, Arsenal fans will be wondering if Dowman might have a part to play.

Though the 2009-born starlet has been remarkably good over pre-season, Arteta all but ruled out the chance of seeing the teen in action on the opening day.

“Let’s go into Saturday, into the break as well. He needs a little break because he hasn’t had any holidays really,” Arteta told the media post-match.

“He’s going to have a break, which I think he needs. And then, following the week, he’ll be ready again to go.”

Having played above his age group in the U18s last season, the U21s beckon for Dowman, with first-team action also a real possibility, though Arteta is eager not to rush the playmaker in any way.