Mikel Arteta invites 14-year-old wonderkid to train with first team ahead of Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta has again invited Arsenal’s teenage sensation Max Dowman to train with the first team before Saturday’s Premier League match against Nottigham Forest.

The 14-year-old has already carved out a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in English football and his progress at youth level has seen him rewarded with the opportunity to learn first hand from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Dowman, a creative midfielder, made history by becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League earlier this season and appears on course for a bright future.

Indeed, his rapid progress has already been noted by the likes of Rio Ferdinand who told his YouTube channel last month: ‘This isn’t to add pressure on these young players because I don’t want to do that, but I was just a bit disappointed in Arteta not giving Nwaneri a bit more of a chance.

‘I saw him come on the other day against Inter, not only looking dangerous, he takes the ball, retains the ball, looks after it, plays like an adult. He plays that Odegaard position.

‘They’ve got another one under him by the way, a kid call Max Dowman. Please go online and check out this kid.

‘He was 14, I saw him coaching 18 and 19-year-olds on the pitch when he was playing with them. And he plays a little bit in that Odegaard position as well, bad player.’

The prospect of including Dowman in the matchday squad, however, looks unlikely, particularly with Arsenal’s injury crisis appearing to have lifted.

Although Ben White is set to miss ‘months’ after undergoing knee surgery and Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a long-term absentee, Riccardo Calafirio has returned, while Odegaard, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaardare set to feature against Forest.

Club captain Odegaard made his comeback against Chelsea prior to the international break but missed Norway’s Nations League fixtures.

‘Because I hadn’t been training as normal before the Chelsea game, I didn’t feel like I was ready to go away with Norway in the international break and play again so soon,’ he said, explaining the decision.

‘I needed some time to work on my fitness and to make sure the ankle was OK. Also other parts of the body need work when you have been out for a long time – when you play your first game in eight weeks it can be brutal on the body. 

‘So we all decided it was the best decision not to play the Norway games, and I thought it was what my body needed too. So I went there for a few days, then travelled back to London to continue my rehab at Sobha. I want to get back to 100 per cent now, so that’s what I’ve been working on.’