Jack Wilshere teases 'fast-tracking' Arsenal wonderkid as Mikel Arteta sent clear message

Max Dowman could be promoted to the Arsenal first team sooner than expected. Jack Wilshere, who coaches the Gunners' Under-18s, has hinted that the 14-year-old midfielder could be fast-tracked into Mikel Arteta's side.

Dowman has been shining in the youth side this season, especially during the recent 5-2 victory over Fulham where he assisted four goals. His performance earned high praise from Wilshere. The 32-year-old, who also started his career in the Arsenal academy, said he «really enjoyed» watching the teenage sensation play.

He expressed hope that Dowman could soon join Arteta's squad. Speaking to club media, as quoted by the Daily Star, Wilshere said: «There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you're good enough you're old enough. He can be more consistent but he's only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet.»

«We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy the game because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can. Hopefully, we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team he'll be more ready.

»I really enjoyed the performance. We had a blend of players spanning from under-14s to under-18s. It's always intriguing to see how they play together, how they fight together, and today, I felt we witnessed that in abundance.

«It's reassuring to know that if I field an under-14 who isn't a regular in our training sessions, I can trust that they grasp our playing style and tactics. Today, they demonstrated that understanding flawlessly, which is a testament to the diligent work of all our coaches.»

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