Mikel Arteta hasn't forgotten about Arsenal starlet ahead of Ipswich test
Arsenal are preparing to face surprise package Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday night. Mikel Arteta hopes that his side can continue their winning start to the season at Portman Road. However, it won't be an easy test, as the Tractor Boys have already recorded two Premier League wins this season.
Despite the test, Arteta is expected to rotate his squad, especially ahead of a tough trip to Brighton at the weekend. Several of Arteta's attackers have failed to make much of an impact this season, such as Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Max Dowman. They'll all be hoping for a chance against Ipswich.
Dowman will perhaps be the most eager of the lot, as he is yet to make an appearance this season. The 16-year-old has struggled to get into the matchday squad so far, but we could see him for the first time at Portman Road, with Arteta likely resting the likes of Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis.
Ahead of the game, the Arsenal boss spoke about the 16-year-old academy graduate, suggesting that he hasn't forgotten about Dowman, but that he has become a victim of the Gunners' exceptional squad depth.
Arteta said in his pre-match press conference: "He will have his chance. He will have his minutes, and he will have to earn them like anybody else. We know the talent that we have, we know the players that we have there, and we need to help him and find a way to make sure that he continues to develop and help the team."
The likes of Saka, Tzolis, Eze and Madueke have all consistently made the squad ahead of Dowman, which is fair enough from a squad selection point of view. However, it does seem harsh on the 16-year-old, as he has been top class every time Arteta calls his number.
It just means that Dowman needs to ensure that when he gets his chance, he makes the most of it. If he does get significant minutes against Ipswich and performs well, then it could be the catalyst that he needs to challenge the likes of Madueke and Eze for a spot on the bench.
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