Arsenal's teenage prodigy Max Dowman has suffered a setback in his promising early career after sustaining ankle ligament damage during a recent friendly against Manchester United, according to The Athletic. The 15-year-old, widely regarded as one of England's brightest young attacking talents, is expected to be sidelined for around two months, though thankfully, surgery will not be required. The injury occurred during a behind-closed-doors friendly between Arsenal and Manchester United's youth sides last week.
Arsenal youngster Marli Salmon was named on the bench for the first time in the Premier League in Saturday's game against Aston Villa. Salmon, 16, is one of a crop of exciting youngsters coming through the Arsenal academy and is in the same age group as Max Dowman, who has already made his first-team debut. He was one of two 15-year-olds on the Arsenal pre-season tour of Asia and featured against AC Milan and Newcastle United in Singapore.
Arsenal's 13-year-old midfielder Luis Munoz has become the youngest ever player to feature in the Uefa Youth League. The England Under-15 international, born in December 2011, came off the bench in the 85th minute of Arsenal's 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the under-19s competition - in a game that was also notable because of two goals from Gunners wonderkid Max Dowman.
Arsenal's Hale End academy looks to have produced another generational talent in Dowman, with the 15-year-old midfielder already drawing stylistic comparisons to Martin Ødegaard as a right-sided playmaker who drifts infield onto his stronger left foot. A key difference is that Dowman dazzles with his dribbling, take-ons and speed on the ball, while his composure to stand up against senior defenders, as seen on Arsenal's preseason tour, is also impressive for one so young.
