Arsenal
Arteta confident Dowman will stay as Arsenal advance talks on first professional deal
Arteta confident Max Dowman will remain at Arsenal as club advances talks on his first pro contract.
Mikel Arteta has played down the idea that Arsenal risk losing Max Dowman to Real Madrid or another rival while negotiations continue over the teenager’s status. Dowman, 15, is not yet eligible to sign a senior contract but is in discussions with the club about his scholar status and a first professional contract that can be pre-signed when he turns 16.
Arteta pointed to the player’s affinity with the club and the family’s attitude as reasons for optimism. “I don’t think about [losing Dowman] because everything that I hear from the player and the family has been very positive,” he told reporters. “[Staying long-term] is we all want and I think what he wants as well. After that it is more for [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club.
“But the feeling that I have is that genuinely he loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well. Hopefully for many years he will be with us.”
Dowman made his first-team debut in August, becoming the club’s second youngest ever player behind Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta has previously shown a willingness to hand very young players senior minutes, having introduced Nwaneri to the first team in 2022. Age alone has not been a barrier: “If we looked at his passport every day we would never play him, simple as that,” Arteta said. “So it is finding a balance, an understanding, especially the load, the things that are changing in his life, and making sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that.”
This season Dowman has made three first-team appearances, totaling 54 minutes, and further chances could arise as Arsenal manage absences in attack. Arteta conceded the squad is stretched ahead of the Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion. “In the front line, that is where we have more difficulties,” he said. “Gabby Jesus out, Kai [Havertz] out, [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Noni] Madueke out. We have to be more careful as we don’t have many options. ]”
Arsenal
October 2025: Premier League Player and Manager of the Month Shortlists
October Player and Manager of the Month shortlists feature Cash, Guimarães, Haaland and Amorim. fans
The shortlists for the Premier League Player and Manager of the Month awards for October have been published.
Matty Cash’s individual form was central to Aston Villa’s resurgence in October. The Villans went three for three, with Cash making a huge impact at both ends of the field. His second goal of the campaign downed Manchester City last time out, after a glorious pass the week prior had put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword.
Bruno Guimarães dominated Newcastle United’s highlight packages this month. A delicious strike from range stole the show in victory over Nottingham Forest, and he saved the best for last with a 90th-minute winner against Fulham to keep the Magpies climbing the table.
Erling Haaland, September’s Player of the Month, remains among the favourites. Three goals in three games saw Haaland reach 11 for the campaign—nobody else in the squad has more than one to their name.
October was a breakout month for Bournemouth summer signing Junior Kroupi. He marked his first Premier League start with two goals against Crystal Palace and followed that with another strike against Nottingham Forest to lift the Cherries into second in the standings.
Bryan Mbeumo forced his way into the race with a dazzling October. Nobody in the league managed more than his four goal involvements—three goals, one assist—as United roared to a three-game winning streak.
Sunderland’s understated summer signing Nordi Mukiele has proven to be a masterstroke. His goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers helps his case, and he was a defensive force across October while adding menace with long throws.
Igor Thiago moved into second in the Golden Boot race with two goals for Brentford this month, scoring against West Ham United and converting a penalty to see off Liverpool. Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber emerged as one of the most in-form right backs and helped the Gunners build a record-breaking defence which did not concede a single goal this month.
On the managerial front, Ruben Amorim enjoys his first nomination as Man Utd manager after a dream October that delivered back-to-back Premier League victories and three consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion. Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola also feature among the nominees.
Previous winners listed include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Erling Haaland (Man City, September).
Arsenal
Arsenal complete six consecutive clean sheets, a top-flight first in 137 years
Arsenal completed six successive clean sheets in October, a top-flight first in 137 years. Record set.
Arsenal recorded a run of six straight shutouts in October, a sequence that began with a 2–0 Champions League win over Olympiacos on Oct. 1 and concluded with Wednesday night’s 2–0 Carabao Cup victory against Brighton. Per Opta, no top-flight side in the 137-year history of the division has played, won and not conceded across six games in the same month.
The sequence of results reads: Oct. 1 Champions League Olympiacos (H) 2–0 W; Oct. 4 Premier League West Ham (H) 2–0 W; Oct. 18 Premier League Fulham (A) 1–0 W; Oct. 21 Champions League Atlético Madrid (H) 4–0 W; Oct. 26 Premier League Crystal Palace (H) 1–0 W; Oct. 29 Carabao Cup Brighton (H) 2–0 W.
Defensive statistics underline the run: Games 6, Goals conceded 0, xG against 4.15, Shots conceded 59 and Shots on target conceded 11. Kepa Arrizabalaga made six saves in the cup tie with Brighton, while over the previous five matches David Raya faced only five shots on target.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has set a clear defensive objective: “More than control, I want dominance,” he once said. “Dominance in the right area and not allowing the opponent to breathe. This is what we do.” Even so, Arteta was frank about weaknesses in the Brighton match: “It’s some very sloppy giveaways that we did give, in very dangerous areas. We didn’t apply two or three rules that we always have in second phases, for example, and we could have been punished,” he huffed.
Brighton fired off 18 shots at the Emirates, the most any side has produced there since Brighton in August 2024, when Arsenal were reduced to 10 players for almost half of that contest. Few opponents have found the net this season; only three players have scored against Arsenal: Dominik Szoboszlai courtesy of a staggering free kick, Erling Haaland on a quick breakaway for Manchester City and Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade with a towering header back in September.
After the 4–0 Champions League defeat, Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone said: “I would say [they are] the best team we have faced this season,” a visibly defeated Diego Simeone sighed after that 4–0 Champions League reverse. Context remains important: five of the six matches were at the Emirates and opposition varied in attacking threat, but the statistical and historical significance of the run is clear.
Arsenal
Max Dowman becomes Arsenal’s youngest ever starter in Carabao Cup fourth round
Max Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter at 15 years, 302 days in the Carabao Cup tie. today
Mikel Arteta named Max Dowman in his starting XI for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Brighton & Hove Albion, making sweeping changes after the weekend victory over Crystal Palace. The selection handed Dowman his first senior start and established a new club record.
At 15 years and 302 days, Dowman is the youngest starter in Arsenal history. He surpassed the previous mark set by academy graduate Jack Porter, who made his senior debut against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup last term at 16 years and 72 days.
Dowman is also already the second-youngest appearance-maker in Premier League history, a distinction only Ethan Nwaneri has claimed ahead of him. The teenager is expected to commit his long-term future to Arsenal and, given his early breakthrough, could add further records before the 2025/26 season concludes.
The start places Dowman among a long list of early debutants from Arsenal’s history. The club’s register of youngest starters includes Cesc Fàbregas (16 years, 177 days), Jack Wilshere (16 years, 266 days), Gerry Ward (16 years, 321 days), David O’Leary (17 years, 106 days), Serge Gnabry (17 years, 108 days), Arturo Lopoli (17 years, 125 days) and Richie Powling (17 years, 159 days). Jack Porter and Ethan Nwaneri also feature prominently in the modern era of academy graduations.
Arteta’s decision to rotate his squad for a cup tie reflects the club’s use of the Carabao Cup as a platform to blood youth players. Dowman’s elevation will be monitored closely as he transitions from academy prospect to senior squad member. The appearance is a significant milestone for the player and a notable moment in the club’s long history of introducing young talent at competitive level.
