Arsenal: Mikel Arteta delivers update on Max Dowman as wonderkid suffers ankle injury

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·9. Dezember 2025

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta delivers update on Max Dowman as wonderkid suffers ankle injury

Gunners have replaced the youngster with Gabriel Jesus in their Champions League squad

Teenage star Max Dowman will be out of action for weeks after injuring his ankle.

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Dowman picked up the injury on Saturday while playing for Arsenal’s Under-21 side in a friendly against Manchester United.

The 15-year-old has since undergone scans and Mikel Arteta has confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines.

“Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury last weekend and he had to come off,” he said. “So we did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.

“It is part of the journey. At some point, when you play at this level, when you play in the position that he plays, when you play in the manner that he plays, it was going to happen.

“It happened. It is not ideal that he is out for weeks, it could have been worse, and learn form it.

“And now use this time as well to continue to improve in his education, in everything that is related to professional football, his habits, the way he needs to develop his physicality as well to be with us, the understanding of the game.

“Sometimes when you are away from the game you say: ‘Ah, I cannot really live without it and how important it is’.

“So use those moments as well to give you a reflection of where you are as well and give you a better force to go forward.”

Max Dowman made his Champions League debut in Arsenal’s win over Slavia Prague last month

AFP via Getty Images

Dowman’s injury has led to Arsenal adding Gabriel Jesus to their Champions League squad.

The Brazilian has been out of action since January after injuring his knee and undergoing surgery.

The striker has played two friendlies and is back ahead of schedule. He could now make his first-team comeback on Wednesday night against Club Brugge.

“With the situation of Gabby, we expected him to be training with us by the end of December,” said Arteta.

“But Gabby has been pushing every single day and he kept telling everybody: ‘I am going to be earlier, earlier, earlier’ - and he’s done it.

“So, thanks to his work and all the work the medical staff have done with him throughout these months.

“We had the possibly to make a swap there [with Dowman]. We have done it and on one side you see, obviously, Max and his situation, and on the other one you see the joy and how happy Gabby is to be back in this competition with us.”