Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta press conference
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal may have enjoyed what many consider their best-ever transfer window last summer, but the club’s hierarchy is already looking ahead.
After making eight new signings in the off-season, Mikel Arteta has assembled a squad strong enough to lead the Premier League and challenge for top honours. However, plans are already underway for the January window as the Gunners aim to strengthen further and sustain their title charge.
Even with one of the most balanced squads in Europe, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are thinking long-term. Several key players are approaching their 30s, while others are entering their prime, prompting careful succession planning.
The Hale End Academy remains central to Arsenal’s future strategy, producing outstanding talents such as Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Max Dowman. These young stars have stepped up following the departures of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson.
Mikel Arteta has shared positive news about teenage prodigy Max Dowman, with Arsenal confident of keeping hold of the 15-year-old despite interest from several European giants.
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Dowman, who turns 16 on December 31, has reportedly agreed terms on a new deal, including his first professional contract, which will come into effect when he turns 17 in late 2026.
Arteta stopped short of confirming that an agreement is final but made it clear that both the club and player are eager for a long-term partnership.
“That’s what we all want and I think what he wants as well, after that it is more for Andrea (Berta, sporting director) and the club,” Arteta said in comments relayed by Sky Sports.
Arsenal star Max Dowman
Max Dowman (Image credit: Getty Images)
“But the feeling that I have is that, genuinely, he loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well.
“Hopefully, for many years, he will be with us. Everything that I hear from the player and the family has been very positive.”
Arteta has previously discussed the challenge of integrating Dowman into the senior setup at such a young age. “We need to change his times, his education, his allocation, where he is with his family. His diet is different, his sleep pattern is different, the training load is different. The amount of information, pressure and exposure is different, so we have to manage a lot of factors,” he said.
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Dowman’s performances have already attracted attention from Manchester City and Barcelona, both of whom are keeping tabs on his progress. However, Arsenal believe they can offer the perfect environment for the young midfielder’s development.
Coming from a family of devoted Arsenal fans, Dowman is said to be fully committed to Arteta’s project and sees a clear pathway to first-team football. Those within the club regard him as one of the most gifted players of his age group, a potential star who could follow in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri.
Dowman is expected to sign an initial two-year contract and could feature in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton on Wednesday night.
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