Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to use Sporting win as boost for Man City showdown
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Mikel Arteta has insisted that he would have no issue trusting Max Dowman in Arsenal's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium knowing that victory would move them nine points clear of their title rivals and in pole position to finally get over the line.
Lose, though, and City could go top when they face Burnley next Wednesday, dropping Arsenal off the summit for the first time since October.
Bukayo Saka has been ruled out with an Achilles injury and Noni Madueke is yet to fully recover from a knee issue, leaving him as a doubt.
Arsenal hope Madueke will train on Saturday and be available, but if not Arteta will be faced with a big selection dilemma.
He would have to move Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard to a more unfamiliar right-wing role, or trust 16-year-old Dowman to start Arsenal's biggest match of the season.
Asked if Dowman would be ready for an occasion of that magnitude, Arteta responded: "He will be ready, I'm sure.
No fear: Max Dowman is ready to feature for Arsenal in Manchester City clash
"You throw him in any context, this kid, you know what he's going to be delivering and he's shown that this season in whatever games that we used him."
Dowman is yet to start a Premier League match and has played only 79 minutes in the competition.
However, Arteta brought him on at Anfield earlier this season when he was only 15 as Arsenal pushed for a late equaliser against Liverpool.
Dowman also became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history last month when he came on and wrapped up victory over Everton.
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In addition to Saka and Madueke, Arsenal have injury concerns over Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.
The decision on the trio's availability will be made after a final training session on Saturday, but Arteta has backed his side's character to stand them in good stead against City even if key players are not involved.
"We have coped with it all season and if you look at the stages and the players that we have missed for big, big, big periods and where we are, it's not normal where we are," Arteta said.
"But we have coped with that because of our mentality and the solutions that we find, the way the players have stepped up in this moment, and we are where we are.
"We're still very strong, and we'll remain the same way."