Overview

• After two straight first-team benches, Dowman played the full U21 match against West Ham on Saturday, scoring from long range and earning praise for a significant defensive contribution.
• He has featured in four senior matchday squads and logged roughly 27 minutes this season, including a Premier League debut against Leeds and further minutes at Liverpool.
• Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have been identified as key support figures, with Rice highlighting Dowman’s unusual composure for a 15-year-old.
• Mikel Arteta outlined a tailored plan covering school scheduling, family logistics, diet, sleep and training load, with safeguarding rules even keeping the schoolboy in separate changing facilities.
• Position talk continues, as Jack Wilshere argues Dowman is best used as a No 10, while recent U21 displays show added two-way work that aligns with Arteta’s demands.