Arsenal Stars Return from Injury at Perfect Time to Fuel Historic Quadruple Dream
Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman returned to action on Friday evening following almost three months out with an ankle setback.
Dowman holds the record as the Premier League's second-youngest player ever and Arsenal's youngest-ever starter, having stepped up to senior level during last summer's preseason preparations. He also became the youngest player in Champions League history after his senior European bow on Nov. 4.
However, an ankle issue sustained in early December kept him out of action until he started Arsenal Under-21's tight Premier League 2 loss to Ipswich Town.
Dowman, who picked up the injury during a friendly fixture, hadn't featured competitively since netting twice for the U19 Gunners in a UEFA Youth League victory over Bayern Munich on Nov. 26. The 16-year-old played the opening 45 minutes against Ipswich in the No. 10 position before being substituted at half-time.
What Role Can Arsenal Fans Expect Dowman to Play?
What Role Can Arsenal Fans Expect Dowman to Play?
For the remainder of the campaign, opportunities may be scarce for Dowman as Arsenal chase four different trophies.
Mikel Arteta wouldn't have included Dowman in the squad, or given him playing time, if he didn't think the youngster was ready. However, throwing such a young talent into high-pressure situations would be irresponsible, particularly during such a crucial period of the season.
Even when available, Dowman wasn't featuring consistently for the first team, frequently remaining unused among the substitutes in Premier League matches. He was still accumulating precious experience throughout and was placed in situations appropriate for his continued development.
Recent FA Cup matches against Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic, both fixtures where Arsenal could afford to rest regular starters, would have been ideal for Dowman to gain match time. That opportunity was missed during the latter stages of his injury rehabilitation, but the Gunners have been paired with another EFL side in the competition's fifth round: Mansfield Town.
Any senior team appearances Dowman does secure for the rest of 2025–26 will likely come from wide positions, where there is more room to operate.