Mikel Arteta praises wonderkid, 15, training with Arsenal first-team - but reveals problem
Mikel Arteta praises wonderkid, 15, training with Arsenal first-team - but reveals problem
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Mikel Arteta has branded 15-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman "unbelievable" after he trained with the Arsenal first-team, but there are some "issues" that could stop him making his debut. Dowman is one of several youngsters who has been training with the first-team as a result of Arsenal's injury crisis, but Arteta has been impressed by the teenager. And speaking ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb, Arteta suggested he could hand Dowman his debut if red tape does not prevent it.
When asked for his thoughts on the young midfielder, Dowman replied: "Very impressive at his age. Some of the things he does in training are unbelievable. He's a player with a huge talent that we have a lot belief that we can develop him into becoming one of our own and he's doing very well so far.
"At the moment with all the legislation there are a lot of restrictions, something that in other countries you don't even mention. We will have to wait and see. He's taking very fast steps because every time you give him a different challenge or put him at a different level he overcomes that quickly which is great. We are on it.".
Dowman has been compared to Brazilian legend Kaka and Arsenal's former Under-18s manager Jack Wilshere revealed last year that the club were looking to "fast-track" him to the first-team. Speaking after a then 14-year-old Dowman assisted four goals in a win over Fulham's Under-18s, Wilshere told club media : "There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you're good enough you're old enough.
