Arteta already has another Max Dowman at Arsenal who was “built in a lab”

Hale End continues to be an invaluable talent factory for Arsenal.

Three academy stars started Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League demolition of Atlético Madrid, with Bukayo Saka putting in a trademark sparkling display, while Ethan Nwaneri was also introduced off the bench late on.

So, while there is still plenty of excitement around big-money summer signings such as Martín Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres, Gooners still love nothing more than a homegrown prodigy, so should Mikel Arteta give more playing time to another youngster?

Max Dowman’s new contract at Arsenal

As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic on Thursday, Max Dowman has “reached an agreement” to remain at Arsenal.

Still only 15 years old of course, his birthday not until New Years’ Eve, the wonderkid will ‘sign scholarship terms’ before being able to sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday.

After featuring prominently during the pre-season tour of Asia, Dowman became the youngest player to ever feature in a Premier League match in August, coming off the bench against Leeds United, winning a penalty shortly after when he was fouled by Gabriel Gudmundsson.

When the 15-year-old was introduced for the final half hour of an EFL Cup tie against Port Vale, it was like Elvis had entered the building, a hushed silence descending over those in the away end at Vale Park, with supporters murmuring to one another, excited to see what the phenomenon could produce up close and personal before their very eyes.

Prior to this season, Dowman had actually been too young to even play under-21 football, but is making up for lost time, scoring during both PL2 appearances to date, against Wolves and West Ham, having also converted a pair of penalties against Atleti in the UEFA Youth League at Meadow Park earlier this week.

Thus, Gooners are rightly excited about this kid, while those inside the club are delighted that he has committed his future to the Arsenal.

However, as Arteta’s sides chase silverware this season, should he make another Hale End graduate front and centre to his team’s title challenge?

Arsenal’s Dowman 2.0 who was ‘built in a lab’

So far this season, Riccardo Calafiori has been Arsenal’s undisputed first-choice left-back, starting all eight Premier League matches.

On Tuesday night though, Arteta rotated his entire left side, with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming into the team, and the teenager certainly staked a claim for more minutes.

Just as the Italian international was getting ready to come on, Lewis-Skelly picked up the ball in the centre circle, seemingly glided past the entire Atlético team before setting up Gabriel Martinelli for the night’s second goal; an impressed Calafiori duly put his tracksuit and bib back on.

Overall, the England international re-emphasised just why he became such an integral figure for Arteta last season, with the statistics supporting the zeitgeist that he put in a scintillating display.

As the numbers highlight, Lewis-Skelly was outstanding against Atlético Madrid, contributing all over the pitch, registering an assist while also winning four duels, with Saka the only player to complete more dribbles.

After the match, Arteta labelled his performance “incredible” while, back in December, when he’d only just broken into the first team, Rice asserted “it was like he was built in a lab”, adding, “he can go to the top, this kid is just special, very special”.

The 19-year-old has also impressed international manager Thomas Tuchel, starting four of England’s six World Cup qualifiers to date, scoring just 20 minutes into his senior debut against Albania at Wembley in March; a fairytale moment.

So, while he has had to be patient at the start of this season, opportunities will come his way, on the bench through no fault of his own, simply because Calafiori has been excellent.

Last season, the Italian saw less than 1,500 minutes of action due to repeated injury issues, but already has 709 minutes under his belt this time round.

Thus, with Arsenal hoping to play as many as 65 games this season, Arteta is going to need everybody, and it would require a miracle for Calafiori to remain injury free the whole way through, so Lewis-Skelly will have a vital role to play in the here and now, while Dowman, considering he’s still only 15, should be considered much more one for the future.