talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham has urged Arsenal youngster Max Dowman to leave the club as soon as possible. Durham reckons that Dowman’s career could stagnate under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage, using Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as examples in recent years.
After representing Arsenal’s academy side for 10 years, Dowman made his professional debut earlier this season against Leeds United in August 2025. The England U19 international became the second-youngest player in Premier League history at 15 years and 235 days, only behind his teammate, Ethan Nwaneri.
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The 16-year-old right winger has had limited opportunities since then, scoring one goal and providing one assist in seven appearances across all competitions. However, most of his appearances have been on the bench, playing a total of just 236 minutes.
Despite recently becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer, Durham advised Dowman to leave Arsenal, stating (via METRO):
“Max Dowman needs to leave Arsenal as soon as possible. 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.”
He added:
“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.”
He also used Nwaneri as an example:
“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.”
He continued:
“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.”
He then concluded:
“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. 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.”
Similar to Dowman this season, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly broke through into the first team last season. The pair impressed, leading to many believing they would regularly feature in the starting XI going forward. However, Nwaneri was loaned to Marseille in January, while Lewis-Skelly is now the Gunners’ third-choice left-back.
“They’re winning it because City have been below standard” – Pundit explains why Arsenal ‘aren’t that good’ despite being title favorites
From the aforementioned interview, talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham reckons Arsenal will win the Premier League title this season due to their rivals’ issues and shortcomings. He also believes the Gunners’ recent EFL Cup final loss against Manchester City proved that they ‘aren’t that good’.
After falling short over the past three seasons, Arsenal have a massive chance to win the title this season. They are at the top of the table with 70 points from 31 games, 11 points above Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Durham said:
“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.”
Arsenal will next face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4.
Edited by Silas Sud
