Max Dowman: Arsenal get huge injury boost ahead of Chelsea clash as wonderkid returns

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Evening Standard

·27 février 2026

Max Dowman: Arsenal get huge injury boost ahead of Chelsea clash as wonderkid returns

Gunners youngster has been sidelined since December with an ankle injury

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman made his long-awaited return from an ankle injury on Friday evening.

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The highly-rated 16-year-old has been sidelined since December, when he picked up an ankle injury while playing for Arsenal’s Under-21 outfit in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.

The injury came as a considerable blow for the youngster, who had been slowly establishing himself in Mikel Arteta’s first-team before he was sidelined.

He marked another significant step in his recovery on Friday, though, making his return to match action as the Gunners’ U21s hosted Ipswich Town at Borehamwood’s Meadow Park.

Dowman started the match, wearing No10, and was withdrawn at half-time in what appeared to be a pre-planned substitution.

Back in the thick of it: Max Dowman returns from injury

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

He did not manage to get on the scoresheet, but impressed under considerable pressure from the Ipswich players and shot narrowly wide shortly before the break.

Dowman’s return was arguably the sole positive of the night, as Arsenal were beaten 1-0 following a first-half strike from former Chelsea youngster Tudor Mendel.

Marli Salmon, on the periphery of the Arsenal first-team, captained Arsenal but was sent off in injury time as they chased a last-gasp equaliser.

Also featuring in the match was Andre Harriman-Annous, who made his senior debut in Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League defeat of Slavia Praha in November.

Dowman, meanwhile, was a regular in first-team training and matchday squads this season before he was injured.

He has made five senior appearances this campaign, starting once, and recorded an assist as the Gunners routed Leeds in August.

Dowman committed his future to Arsenal in January, signing a pre-contract agreement which will bind him to sign a professional deal when he turns 17 this December.