Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirms Max Dowman debut 'difficult' due to Premier League rules | OneFootball

Teenager could theoretically help ease Gunners injury crisis

Mikel Arteta admits the Premier League rules make it “difficult” for Max Dowman to make his debut this season and ease Arsenal’s injury crisis.

Havertz is undergoing surgery and will be out of action for the rest of the season. Martinelli is set to be out for at least a month.

Bukayo Saka is also out with a hamstring injury and Gabriel Jesus will miss the rest of the season with a knee issue.

It means Arsenal have just three fit forwards right now in Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling.

Dowman, who is only 15, has been mentioned as someone who could be added to the squad but Arteta has confirmed that is unlikely.

Attacking midfielder Dowman is not eligible to play for Arsenal in the Premier League as competition rules state players in match-day squads cannot be from a lower age group than the Under-16s. Dowman was named in Arsenal’s Under-15 squad at the start of the season.

Max Dowman has been training with Arsenal in Dubai

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“We had Max, we had many other kids as well there [in Dubai],” said Arteta. “It was a big opportunity for us to see them in our environment.

“It’s clear the rules on age and restrictions at the moment and very difficult to change that as well.”

Arsenal are back in action on Saturday when they head to Leicester and Arteta is remaining positive.

The Gunners can close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points with a win after Arne Slot’s side were held to a draw at Everton on Wednesday.

“That helps,” he said. “It seems like it helps when you see your team performing, what we’ve done in the Champions League and what we’re doing in the league with all the conditions that we’re in, that’s massive belief.

“The players’ reaction is one that gives me the mood that I’m in, that they want more and they’re not satisfied and they’re not going to stop with that.

“I better not tell you the story of what happened [when I was watching the Everton v Liverpool game]!

“It was a funny one because I was watching the tablet and I lost connection so we didn’t know exactly what was going on. That’s the beauty of football, the uncertainty and that’s the fact for everybody.

“It’s not the first time for everybody, it’s really difficult to win matches in this league, that’s why the hope and the ambition are always there because to do it consistently for 10 months, it’s a very, very long league.”