Arsenal have confirmed that Max Dowman has suffered an ankle injury – so how long will he be out?
The 15-year-old midfielder has suffered ankle ligament damage, adding to the club’s rising injury list.
Max Dowman injury
Dowman suffered the injury during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United and came off after a challenge that caused immediate concern.
Scans later revealed damage to the ankle ligament, although the teenager is not expected to require surgery.
The setback comes just months after breaking into Arsenal’s first-team picture.
Dowman became the youngest player in the history of the Champions League earlier this season and has already made five senior appearances.
How long will Max Dowman be out?
The expected timeline for Max Dowman’s recovery is approximately two months.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have both confirmed the midfielder will be out for “weeks”, while UEFA’s classification of his injury as a 60-day absence reinforces the expected timetable.
With his injury meeting UEFA’s threshold for a ‘long-term problem’, Arsenal were allowed to remove him from the Champions League squad and replace him with Gabriel Jesus.
Dowman will not be eligible to play in UEFA competitions again until February 6, even if he recovers sooner.
Will Max Dowman need surgery?
No. The current assessment shows that surgery is not necessary.
The injury will be managed through rehabilitation, strengthening and load management, in line with the expected two-month recovery period.
When will Max Dowman play again?
If rehabilitation goes as planned, Dowman’s earliest possible return will be around early February, but a more likely competitive comeback is expected around mid-February.
It is a blow to Dowman’s hopes of breaking the record as the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer, but he will still have several months to achieve that when he returns.
Arsenal expect to place him on the UEFA B-list when squad entries reopen in January.
Why Arsenal have dropped Max Dowman from their Champions League squad
UEFA now allows clubs to replace injured outfield players at any time before and including matchday 6, provided the injury rules out the player for at least 60 days.
Dowman’s ankle ligament damage meets that requirement and as a result Gabriel Jesus has replaced him on the Champions League A-list.
Dowman will move to the B-list in January, but he will not be eligible for UEFA matches until his 60-day period expires.
Arsenal injury list
Dowman is one of 28 injuries at Arsenal this season, the highest total in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s squad depth has been severely tested, with Arteta saying they are caught in a “really dangerous cycle” where absences impose heavy minutes on other players, increasing the risk of further injuries.
Current absentees include centre-back trio William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera, while forwards Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard remain absent.
Declan Rice is also doubtful for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Club Brugge.
The timing of Dowman’s injury adds further tension to a December schedule that includes key games against Wolves, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Aston Villa.
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