Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman is expected to be sidelined for around two months after sustaining ankle ligament damage during a friendly against Manchester United on Saturday.
The 15-year-old was injured following a challenge in the first half and was taken off immediately, with subsequent scans confirming ligament damage that fortunately will not require surgery.
Arsenal amended their Champions League squad on Tuesday by withdrawing Dowman and adding Gabriel Jesus, using UEFA’s rule that allows clubs to replace an outfield player who faces an absence of at least 60 days.
Mikel Arteta addressed the situation in his press conference before the trip to Club Brugge and said Dowman would “be out for weeks”, with the expectation inside the club that the midfielder will not return before February.
The setback arrives during a rapid rise for Dowman, who earned his debut in the 5-0 win over Leeds United in August after impressing throughout pre-season.
He became the second-youngest player to appear for Arsenal and later made Champions League history when he featured against Slavia Prague at 15 years and 308 days.
Dowman has made five senior appearances this season and registered an assist, and his progression into first-team training had continued due to his form across the academy levels.
He had scored in every youth match he played this season, including braces in both UEFA Youth League fixtures and goals in Premier League 2, reflecting the consistency that pushed him into senior contention.
He scored again in Saturday’s friendly against Manchester United before the injury, and the match had been intended to build sharpness for potential involvement in the coming week.
Arsenal reached an agreement with Dowman earlier this season on scholarship terms, with a professional contract expected when he turns seventeen, and his enforced spell on the sidelines is seen as a frustrating interruption rather than a long-term concern.
His absence adds to an already demanding injury list that has shaped Arsenal’s campaign, with Cristhian Mosquera, Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba all currently unavailable.
The club expect Dowman to return in February and remain confident that the injury will not halt the development of one of their brightest young midfielders at a time when opportunities had begun to open in both Europe and the Premier League.