Teen star Dowman ready to make impact for Arsenal says Arteta / Photo: Ben STANSALL - AFP
Teen star Dowman ready to make impact for Arsenal says Arteta
Mikel Arteta said Max Dowman is ready to start "regularly" for Arsenal after the history-making teen sensation pushes for a place in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Dowman starred as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Aged just 16 years and 73 days, Dowman came off the bench to secure a vital victory for the Gunners as he provided the cross for Viktor Gyokeres to score the opener before netting himself in stoppage-time.
The midfield prodigy's goal made him the youngest scorer in Premier League history, earning plaudits from Arteta, who now has to decide whether to start him in the last-16 second leg against Leverkusen.
When asked if Dowman is ready to play regularly, Arteta told reporters on Monday: "Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly.
"Depending on the game and how he reacts. I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.
"To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost.
"He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."
Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori said Dowman, who is still studying for school exams, is already a popular figure in Arsenal's squad.
"The first time that you see him on the pitch, you're quite curious about him. He's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch," Calafiori said.
"He can improve so many things but he's a talent, as you can see. But at the same time we have to leave him quiet and don't speak about him too much because he has everything.
"For sure we try to give him some advice but for the moment he's doing well even without our advice."
Arsenal drew the first leg against Leverkusen 1-1 in Germany thanks to a late Kai Havertz penalty.
They are firm favourites to see off the Bundesliga side in north London, but Arteta warned against complacency.
"We know what we have to do and in front of our crowd, with our people, putting all the energy in the world again. Hopefully we're going to do it," he said.
Arteta also revealed Martin Odegaard could be fit to lead Arsenal into Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Odegaard has been sidelined since the 4-1 win at Tottenham on February 22 because of a knee injury.
The Norway midfielder is pushing to be available for Arsenal's attempt to win their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020.
"We are really pushing him. He really wants to try to be available but we'll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team," Arteta said.
"We know the game that we're going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better."
J.Morris--RTC
