Mikel Arteta said Will Dowman is in line for minutes when Arsenal face Everton at Emirates Stadium, adding that the teenager has already shown he can impact the game. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Arteta was asked about Dowman and pointed to the way he has handled each opportunity so far.
Arteta said Dowman has been training well and that every chance he gets to play, he shows he is a player who can make a difference. In Arteta's view, that has been enough to put him in line for more involvement. The manager was clear that Dowman is going to have minutes, which is a notable sign for a young player heading into a Premier League match.
There is also a direct reason the matchup may carry extra meaning. In March, Dowman scored against the team Arsenal will face again, and Arteta said it would be a great story if Arsenal win the game, especially because of that connection. It adds another layer to a match that already has plenty of interest for the home side.
Saka update adds another issue for Arsenal
Arteta also gave an update on Bukayo Saka, who had another MRI on Friday afternoon. He said there was quite a lot of fluid in the area, which made it difficult to understand the full extent of the injury right away. Arsenal will probably know more about the issue by Saturday.
For Arsenal, the two updates tell a similar story about squad management ahead of a Premier League fixture. Dowman looks set for a chance to contribute, while Saka's availability remains uncertain until the club gets more clarity on the injury.
