Mikel Arteta reveals that Arsenal star could be back in the team for Mansfield clash | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta could be ready to thrust Arsenal teenage star Max Dowman back into action for tomorrow’s FA Cup clash against Mansfield.

The talented 16-year-old has been sidelined since December with an ankle injury but was included on the bench as the Gunners continued their Premier League title charge with victory at Brighton.

Saturday’s trip to League One Mansfield could represent the perfect opportunity for Arteta to give Dowman some minutes and the Arsenal boss believes the young midfielder will have learned a lot from his spell out injured.

“First of all, you miss playing, that’s the first thing, so don’t take it for granted because it can be taken away from you when you don’t expect it and for a long time as well,” Arteta explained.

“He had different routines, he starts to understand more the rehab coaches, the physio, the doctor, the importance of the scan, the discipline that you need to maintain your fitness when you have an injury because if not, after, it’s going to take a long time to get back to your levels.

“But he’s done so well. He’s been looking really good in training and hopefully we can give him chances to play.”

Arteta also provided an update on the ankle injury sustained by defender William Saliba, who subsequently missed the midweek trip to Brighton.

The Spaniard revealed the issue is different to the one the French international picked up earlier in the season.

“It’s the other one,” he added.

“We saw the same after the game because he wasn’t comfortable to finish the game and after that away he didn’t have a good feeling, so let’s see if he recovers quickly.”