REUTERS/Phil Noble via Action Images
Mikel Arteta will be without Christos Tzolis for Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, and he'll subsequently be forced to select an unconventional option on the left-hand side.
Tzolis sustained a hamstring injury whilst on international duty for Greece earlier this month, and hasn't featured for the Gunners since Arteta's players returned from this protracted break in the season. The Spanish manager selected Noni Madueke on the left against Leeds in the North Londoners last league fixture, before picking Eberechi Eze on this side in midweek against Lille in the Champions League.
Madueke impressed in patches against Leeds, without properly influencing the game in the final third. Meanwhile, Eze was quiet on Tuesday night until Arteta surrounded him with Arsenal's better players later in the match.
Neither did quite enough to stake a claim to start in this role at the City Ground, and thus, Arteta should look for a more unorthodox solution.
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Statistical Comparison 2025/26 (League Only)
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Max Dowman Needs to Learn to Play Off the Left
max dowman
Despite Tzolis' positive start to life in North London, there remains a clear opening for someone to take the left-wing role at the Emirates. It's the one position in Arteta's first-choice starting eleven that isn't currently dominated by a standout player.
Tzolis, Eze and Madueke all have the potential to make the role their own, but Arteta ought to look further afield for Sunday's trip to the East Midlands. There is an option at his disposal that has superstar potential, unlike these aforementioned players.
That candidate is Max Dowman, who has primarily been used off the right so far in his fledgling career, due to his left-footedness. The 16-year-old is a natural fit for the right wing and the right eight role under Arteta, as the position allows him to come inside and create on his stronger foot.
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However, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka currently occupy these positions in Arteta's team, and they don't look like going anywhere anytime soon. Meanwhile, the left-hand side is much more vacant.
If Arsenal are looking for a way to get their prestigious young talent into the team, they should trial him off the left at some point, and there's no better time to do so than immediately on Sunday.
Max Dowman's Statistics For Arsenal (2025/26)
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The Gunners are likely to dominate possession against Forest, so Dowman should be able to concentrate on coming into central areas from the left to combine with his technical teammates.
The role may also allow him to maximise the threat he can create from his special left foot. If he's constantly fed on the left, he can drive to the byline and whip crosses or cut-backs into dangerous areas.
On the flip side, his weak foot isn't currently at the level where his deliveries on it are consistent, meaning he often wastes attacks when he goes on the outside when playing off the right flank.
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta
There's no harm in Arteta experimenting with this slightly unconventional ploy. If it's not working after an hour at the City Ground, the Premier League title-winning manager can introduce Eze or Madueke from the bench.
The upside with Dowman is much greater than his two senior counterparts, so it's worth a go at the very least.
Arsenal fans have been crying out for the teenage prodigy to play more minutes, so this is a way Arteta can engineer this and appease these supporters. It's a no-brainer.
All Statistics via FotMob - correct as of 17/08/2026