Arsenal may regret not sending Nwaneri and Dowman out on loan

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Just Arsenal News

·8 December 2025

Arsenal may regret not sending Nwaneri and Dowman out on loan

Arsenal fans are rightly proud that Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, two of England’s brightest young talents, wear the club’s badge. Their performances in limited senior minutes have shown maturity, confidence, and an ability to impact games despite their age. But Arsenal now face a familiar dilemma: how to balance elite-level expectations with the development of exceptional youth prospects.

Arsenal’s Current Situation Leaves Little Room for Youth Minutes

This past summer, the club spent heavily to strengthen an already competitive squad, building depth across every position. With Arsenal pushing for the Premier League title and targeting deep runs in Europe, Mikel Arteta is under pressure to prioritise results above all else. In such an environment, opportunities for Nwaneri and Dowman will be scarce. The pathway for young players becomes narrower when every match carries title-race consequences.

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And this is where Arsenal risk repeating past mistakes. The club has seen numerous promising talents emerge at youth level, only to stagnate when their senior opportunities dried up.

Nwaneri (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

A Six-Month Loan Could Be the Best Decision

If Arsenal truly want Nwaneri and Dowman to become first-team regulars in the future, the club may need to take a pragmatic step in January: send both players on loan.

A six-month spell at a club prepared to play them consistently could accelerate their development in a way occasional minutes at the Emirates cannot. Regular senior football, physical battles, tactical demands, and the week-to-week pressure of meaningful games would give them growth opportunities the Arsenal bench simply cannot provide right now.

Yes, loans come with risks. Not every spell goes as planned. But keeping elite talents idle carries far greater danger. If the club wants them ready to fight for a place next season, loan moves are the smartest path.

Developing players of their calibre requires courage and long-term thinking, qualities Arsenal must show now, even in the middle of a title race.

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