Arsenal add 14-year-old to first-team training ahead of Chelsea clash – Reports
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have added 14-year-old Max Dowman to first-team training session ahead of their Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday, November 10. The two London sides are currently locked in a top-four battle, making this fixture at Stamford Bridge all the more important.
Arsenal currently sit sixth in the league standings and will be hoping to return to winning ways after losing their last two matches. A defeat against Chelsea will further dent their title ambition.
As Mikel Arteta and his troop made the final preparations for the game against Chelsea, Max Dowan was a surprise inclusion to the first team squad. As per Romano, the academy player is highly rated and he is considered a huge prospect for the future.
Bukayo Saka is currently the best player in the senior squad to have come through the Arsenal academy. Other academy players like Ethan Nwaneri have also been given first-team opportunities due to multiple injuries to senior players.
Max Dowan primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, and is currently playing for the U18 Arsenal team.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta impressed with Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca
Mikel Arteta heaped praise on his counterpart Enzo Maresca and addressed the quality that Chelsea have ahead of the London derby. Since Maresca's move to Stamford Bridge, their performance has improved and they are fifth on the table with 18 points after ten games. This is unlike last season, where they were languishing in the bottom half at this stage.
In the pre-match conference, Arteta admitted that his side will be playing against a different version of Chelsea. He said (via the club's official website):
"When you don't win it affects the mood and energy but the positive thing is that it is impossible that anyone in this room or outside wants to win more than I do, and these guys in the dressing room want to do. Today I had a meeting with them about it and I can sense it straight away.
"I'm really impressed about what [Maresca’s] done, but what they’ve done over a year because with Mauricio [Pocchetino] the last six months were extraordinary. You could see the squad, the quality they have, the amount of players they have and then Enzo has given his touch and you can see clearly what he wants to do. I think he’s been really brave from day one to consistently follow what he wanted to do."
The last meeting between both sides in the Premier saw Arsenal secure an emphatic 5-0 victory at the Emirates.