Arsenal open to loan for wonderkid Dowman

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated the club is open to considering a loan move for 16-year-old winger Max Dowman in the January transfer window, contingent on his development needs and the squad's circumstances. The decision marks a shift from Arteta's previous stance of wanting to develop the teenager at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta stated the club will evaluate Dowman's situation every six months. "We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision," Arteta said ahead of Arsenal's Premier League match against Brighton. "It depends on a lot of factors. What he needs, and what the team needs as well, the availability we have in the squad, the minutes that he is playing and the qualities of those minutes." The manager added that Arsenal had not previously explored loan possibilities because the club was "crystal clear" about wanting Dowman in the first-team squad. However, he acknowledged the pros and cons of a loan, citing his own experience moving to Paris St-Germain at age 17. Premier League regulations prevent a player from being loaned out until they turn 17.