Arsenal handed Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman transfer warning ahead of Mikel Arteta decision
Rio Ferdinand has warned Mikel Arteta to play Arsenal wonderkids Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman or risk losing them. Among the plethora of forward talents the club's Hale End academy has produced recently, Nwaneri and Dowman are the two most impressive youngsters.
Nwaneri, who aged 15 became the youngest player in Premier League history back in 2022, enjoyed a breakout season last term for the Gunners. The 18-year-old scored nine times in all competitions despite playing just 1,378 minutes of football, including two goals in the Champions League and one against Manchester City.
A section of Arsenal fans were even left disgruntled with manager Arteta, believing the Englishman deserved more game time, especially when captain Martin Odegaard was injured at the start of the campaign.
Now, another prodigious Hale Ender - 15-year-old Dowman - has emerged onto the scene boasting arguably even greater potential. Dowman, who was not allowed to be called up last season due to his age, lit up Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia despite limited minutes last month, becoming one of the most-talked about talents in the country.
Manchester United legend Ferdinand has been a vocal supporter of Dowman and Nwaneri in recent weeks, claiming the teenagers are ready to make a serious impact this season. And he believes their ability warrants game time, suggesting they could leave if Arteta doesn't allow them to flourish.
He said on Rio Ferdinand Presents: 'Ethan Nwaneri, I think he's a ridiculous talent. The only thing I'm worried about is that these two boys play in the same position as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. The problem Arsenal have is that if these two young boys don't get enough minutes, they could start getting itchy feet.
'Maybe people around them start getting into their head and patience wears thin - you risk losing them. I think they're ready to be dipped in a lot more than we saw last season, especially Nwaneri because he's had that year of adaptation to the first team.
'I think he's got great talent but Dowman excites me on another level. This kid is different.' Ferdinand went on to say he is the best English teenager since his own former team-mate Wayne Rooney.
He continued: 'Dowman's more subtle, he's more tekky, he's going to have people on ice skates. He gets you off your feet.'
Dowman, who still hasn't finished his GCSEs, got his first taste of training with the senior squad at just 14. Despite Arteta's tendency to protect youngsters from the spotlight, the Spaniard saw enough potential to include him in the winter trip to Dubai, suggesting he is open to providing opportunities at the right time.
Dowman is unable to sign a professional contract until he's 17 in December 2026. There is no doubt that there will be a clamour from other top clubs to poach him, having caught the eye by dominating youth team games for England and Arsenal in the No. 10 position, which has earned him comparisons to Brazilian legend Kaka.
Nwaneri, meanwhile, recently signed a five-year contract with his boyhood club. That was despite some concern over the youngster entering the last 12 months of his contract and reports of interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
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