Mikel Merino has drawn a notable comparison between Arsenal teenager Max Dowman and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal after the 16-year-old’s eye-catching showing in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town.

Merino, who knows Yamal well from international duty with Spain, said Dowman shares more than just talent with the Barcelona forward. In his view, the pair are alike in how they handle pressure and attention.

“There are some similarities in terms of their character,” Merino reflected. “They don’t care about the spotlight. They thrive when pressure is at the highest. They are always up for the challenge and they are not shy at all, even facing the biggest names in the game.

“[Dowman] is an unbelievable talent. We knew it, but every time he goes on the pitch and plays against grown men he makes the difference. He is a big talent and we have to take care of him.

“We have to keep pushing him. He needs to keep learning—eyes and ears open always. There is still big room for improvement in a lot of areas and he knows that. So we are going to be by his side trying to get him to his best level.

“It is a thin line. It is very difficult to have equilibrium sometimes with him, because obviously you want him to shine and show everyone the talent that he has. But you have to sometimes remind them that they are human beings and they are part of a bigger squad and team.

“The good thing with these kind of players—Lamine and Max—is that they are special talents, but at the same time they are very humble. They are always keen to learn and listen to the veterans. That is priceless.”

Dowman, who turns 17 on Dec. 31, has now delivered three goals and one assist in 14 senior appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arteta, though, stressed that progress must be handled carefully. He said the Premier League presents a different challenge from other leagues and that Dowman’s development needs patience and the right conditions.

“Everything is possible,” Arteta said when asked if Dowman could become a first-team regular. “The probability probably is extremely low, because you don’t see the players with the capacity to handle just the physicality of the game.

“Not only that, but the demands that you have to put your bodies through in the week to be able to be in a good condition to compete, the amount of information, the challenges that you have to face.

“But he’s doing it, and he’s doing it really well every time he’s got a chance. What we have to do is look after him. He’s 16 years old, you don’t see that in this league.

“In other leagues in Europe, that’s a totally different context. But in this league, with the demands that the league, the players and everything puts on you, we really need to make sure every time we throw him in, he’s in the right context with the right preparation, and that’s what we are trying to do.”

The Premier League’s Key Match Incident panel has backed the decision not to send off Gabriel for the first-half clash with Emiliano Martínez in Arsenal’s win over Chelsea in early September.

The incident came during a frantic scramble inside the box after Calafiori’s shot was blocked. With several players on the floor and the ball loose, the scene quickly became tangled, as bodies converged and each side tried to clear, finish, or simply claim possession. In that melee, Gabriel swung at the ball but instead caught Martínez near the eye with his boot. The goalkeeper required treatment, and Chelsea players immediately called for a red card.

Neither Chris Kavanagh, the referee, nor the VAR official judged the challenge to merit a dismissal. Arsenal went on to recover from being behind and won 2-1, one of the early headline matches of the 2026-27 Premier League season.

The KMI panel, made up of five independent members who assess major refereeing calls from every game, ruled unanimously that the on-field decision was correct. “The panel unanimously supported the referee’s call of no red card,” the panel’s ruling stated. “Multiple players were on the ground competing and challenging for the loose ball, and the action of Gabriel was not deemed to be an act of violent conduct or serious foul play.”

That conclusion aligns with the FA’s definition of violent conduct, which covers the use or attempted use of excessive force or brutality when not challenging for the ball, or against other individuals.

In the panel’s view, Gabriel was trying to direct the loose ball toward goal in a crowded sequence, rather than making a deliberate act of excessive force. Despite the contact with Martínez’s face, the referee, VAR and KMI all reached the same conclusion: no red card was required.

Liverpool are working to secure Rio Ngumoha on a new contract as interest from Arsenal continues to grow around the teenage winger.

Ngumoha has already made five more appearances for Liverpool this season and remains central to the club’s first-team thinking. That is notable given the summer arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, both of whom operate in the same left-wing role that suits the youngster best.

The situation is made more pressing by the fact that his current deal runs until 2028, with no agreement yet in place on an extension. David Ornstein has confirmed Arsenal’s interest on The Athletic FC podcast, while also stressing that Liverpool are not ready to entertain a sale.

“I think there is some interest from Arsenal in Rio Ngumoha,” said Ornstein. “There’s surely interest from lots of clubs in him, because he’s such a precocious talent. I did hear over the summer that they like him. They’re allowed to like him; that’s their prerogative. It doesn’t mean Liverpool are going to sell him.

“They want to renew his contract. He’s 18 and tied down at Anfield until 2028. I don’t know of an agreement yet on a new deal, so clearly that’s something they’ll try to progress.”

Liverpool regard the teenager as untouchable after already turning away interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig last summer. Even so, the amount of football he receives under Andoni Iraola could prove important in the months ahead.

With Barcola, Muñoz and Cody Gakpo among the options on the flanks, there is pressure on the manager to keep Ngumoha involved and avoid any frustration while Liverpool work on a renewal.

“I heard Arsenal have some interest in him, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him and Liverpool because there is no suggestion he’s unhappy there,” Ornstein added.

“I reported over the summer that Ngumoha was actually Bayern Munich’s top target at one point to strengthen in the wing position. They’d done quite a lot of work on it, but it didn’t develop. Liverpool had no interest in trading him.

“RB Leipzig were another club credited with interest. What will be really interesting is to see how much game time he gets at Liverpool, because wingers are the big thing for Andoni Iraola.

“You would expect him to be a real asset for them. Let’s see how it develops.”

Arsenal’s interest is also tied to their lack of depth on the left side. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, but the loss of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard has left the area short of natural options.

At present, Tzolis is mainly competing with Eberechi Eze, who is more naturally suited to central attacking midfield. Mikel Arteta will want reinforcements soon, especially after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior over the summer.