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.”

Michael Carrick’s early spell in charge has already been marked by frustration, and the latest setback has only intensified the scrutiny. A poor opening-day loss to Hull City set an uneasy tone, before victories over Ipswich Town and Sabah FK briefly offered relief. That improvement did not last long.

United’s collapse from 2-0 up at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night pushed the situation to a new low. After the final whistle, Carrick admitted: “We’ve gone out of the cup tonight, and the feeling around the place feels bigger than that,” as the sense of unease around the club deepened further.

He was then booed off by the supporters who remained to see the end of a 3-2 defeat, although Carrick tried to lower the temperature. “I don’t feel under pressure,” he said. Even so, the schedule now offers little room for error. If United cannot find a response soon, the next few weeks could become increasingly uncomfortable for the manager.

The immediate chance to recover comes on Sunday with a visit to Fulham’s Craven Cottage. United then face Tottenham at Old Trafford before the fixtures turn quickly to Europe and back again, with Atlético Madrid away, Leeds away and Como away also on the list.

Carrick insisted there is still belief within the squad. “Of course we can turn it around, we have got some really good players,” he said. “It feels bad because we haven’t had a great week or two, or three weeks.”

Fulham, meanwhile, have also struggled. Álvaro Arbeloa has taken just one point from his first four Premier League matches, and his side have conceded heavily despite showing plenty of ambition in the final third. United will know this is a match that could swing either way, but they also know failure to win would make the international break feel much longer than it should.

Chelsea’s ownership picture has shifted again, with Clearlake Capital now holding full control after buying out the shares previously owned by Todd Boehly and Mark Walter.

The deal has been completed, and The Times reported that Clearlake paid close to £1 billion, or $1.3 billion, to remove Boehly and Walter from their stakes. Boehly’s departure comes after years in which he had been the most visible figure in the club’s ownership structure, despite owning only 12.8% of Chelsea’s shares.

In a statement, Boehly said: “It has been an honor to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said in a statement. “I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the Club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea , and the legions of dedicated fans.

“I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the Club. I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”

Clearlake co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano responded by praising Boehly’s role and underlining the direction they intend to take. They said: “Todd has been an important partner throughout our ownership of Chelsea, and we thank him for his time and contribution as Chairman. He will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family.

“Clearlake has served as Chelsea’s majority owner since 2022, and as we move to full control our focus is to continue investing in the Club’s infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for Chelsea and the Club’s supporters.”

The split appears to have been driven by two separate issues. Walter’s involvement became complicated by an investigation into financial misdealings, while Boehly had long been linked with disagreements inside the ownership group, something repeatedly denied by those in charge.

Boehly is not facing any allegations connected to the accusations against Walter, but his exit has now ended his role as chairman. Clearlake can now make decisions directly rather than relying on boardroom votes where major issues had previously divided the group, including Stamford Bridge and its future.

On the football side, little is expected to change. Clearlake are set to continue their recruitment model, while manager Xabi Alonso retains full backing. The owners have also stated there will be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club.”