Max Dowman told to quit Arsenal ‘as soon as possible’ by talkSPORT presenter

Max Dowman has been urged to leave Arsenal as soon as possible amid fears his career will stagnate under the management of Mikel Arteta.

The precociously talented teenager became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history earlier this month when stylishly wrapping up the leaders’ vital 2-0 win against Everton.

Dowman’s impact and potential led to suggestions that the World Cup could take priority over his GCSEs this summer.

Full international recognition may have to wait a while longer, even if he plays a significant role in the run-in, a prospect that has been rendered likelier by the injury sustained by Noni Madueke on Friday evening.

Regardless, talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham believes Dowman’s future would be best served by continuing his education elsewhere and highlighted the career trajectories of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewsi-Skelly as evidence.

Dowman’s fellow Hale End Academy graduates made similary eye-catching breakthroughs last term but one is currently on loan at Marseille, having been deemed surplus to requirements, while the other has been relegated to third choice left-back and has lost his place in the senior England set-up.

‘Max Dowman needs to leave Arsenal as soon as possible,’ said the talkSPORT presenter.

‘Dowman has seen Myles Lewis-Skelly’s career derailed by MIkel Arteta. He’s not even third choice left-back now – [Piero] Hincapie and [Riccardo] Calafiori ahead of him in a Wembley final.

‘He was a midfielder in the youth team and got to a Youth Cup final in midfield.

‘Even with [Martin] Zubimendi looking like a League One player, [Declan] Rice’s numbers are shocking and [Mikel] Merino injured. Lewis-Skelly isn’t going to get a look in there, he’s third choice left-back.

‘He’s surely on his way.’

On the treatment of Nwaneri, Durham added: ‘He’s [Dowman] also seen another youth team product Ethan Nwaneri used to boost Arteta’s ego – ‘look at me, I play young players’ – and yet in their title season he’s sent to Marseille with no recall clause which is total disrespect.

‘So Max Dowman needs to take a look at these things and realise that he’s just another tick in Mikel Arteta’s box.

‘It’s all about Arteta, it’s not about Dowman and if he stays there, Arteta will keep signing right wingers for money until Max Dowman realises Arteta is just not that into him. That’s the reality of it.

‘[Bukayo] Saka is playing like me this season. He’s never going to be dropped. [Noni] Madueke played in the cup final like he didn’t even know what a football was. They are both ahead of Dowman on that right hand side.

‘Arsenal were sinking fast in that cup final. Embarrassed on the big stage. They needed something special and yet Arteta did not bring Max Dowman on.’

‘He didn’t bring on the true starboy that saved Arsenal in the Everton game in the Premier League.

‘Here’s the thing, the cup final proved what a lot of people think – Arsenal aren’t that good.

‘They’re going to win the title, not because they’re special, they’re winning it because City have been below standard, Chelsea are a ridiculous football club, Liverpool have had an impossible situation to deal with since last summer and Man United stuck with [Ruben] Amorim for far too long.

‘So Dowman can look at Nwaneri being told he’s not going to get a game at 10, they’d rather spend big on [Eberechi] Eze or play [Kai Havertz there which is ridiculous.

‘Look at Lewis-Skelly going backwards in his career. He even got into the England team and Arteta just discarded him and he’s not going to go to the World Cup.’

And in a final plea to Dowman, he said: ‘Max Dowman don’t follow their path. Forget who your family supports, that’s irrelevant now. Think about your career, go find a stage your talents deserve.

‘Barcelona, Real Madrid, wherever it is. Go find a coach who will get the very best out of you and bring you success in your career.

‘You deserve better than Arsenal.’