max dowman arsenal
Former midfielder-turned-pundit Joe Cole has urged Mikel Arteta to start Max Dowman in Arsenal’s potential Premier League title-deciding fixture against Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners have endured a tough time in recent weeks, winning only one out of five matches across all competitions and losing three. Following a disappointing defeat against AFC Bournemouth last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s side allowed the Citizens to close the gap at the top of the table.
Arsenal are currently league leaders with 70 points from 32 matches, while Pep Guardiola’s side are only six points behind, having played one game less.
This weekend, Arteta’s side are set to face Man City at the Etihad Stadium. Now, speaking on TNT Sports(via Metro), Cole has urged Arteta to start 16-year-old Dowman in Arsenal’s potential Premier League title decider.
He is a ‘special’ player and has already shown glimpses of his qualities at the highest level at this tender age.
Cole said:
“It would be a massive call [to start Dowman against Man City] but he is special, he’s clearly special. What he’s already done at the game at his age is incredible. He could start…
“Arsenal were in a Champions League quarter-final tonight and Arteta turned to Dowman and that shows you the faith they have in him. We might even see him on Sunday and that would be huge.”
Arteta urged to start Dowman vs Man City
The Spanish boss has been using the youngster as a rotational option this season, and he is considered one of the world’s best young talents. He is currently the youngest scorer in the Premier League’s history.
Amid Bukayo Saka’s injury absence in recent weeks, Dowman has been getting more minutes. However, Noni Madueke sustained an injury vs Sporting CP in midweek, so if Saka can’t recover in time and Madueke can’t feature, Arteta would be left with Dowman as the only available right-winger.
Gabriel Martinelli has been displaying below-average performances, and Gabriel Jesus hasn’t been at his best since returning from a serious knee issue.
Therefore, Arteta might have to start Dowman this weekend. However, asking a 16-year-old to commence a game of such magnitude might be too much.