Before last summer’s transfer window even opened, the majority of Arsenal supporters knew that added reinforcements were needed within the attacking department.
The Gunners may have won the Premier League last campaign, but it felt at times as though Mikel Arteta’s side were lacking the elite-level talent needed to become a European powerhouse.
Christos Tzolis was the only forward-minded addition made by the hierarchy, but the Greek international has already suffered an injury and remains sidelined.
As a result, a lot of the weight of proving the goods within attacking areas has fallen onto young shoulders – a responsibility that already appears to be too much.
Why Dowman needs more time to thrive at Arsenal
Despite being just 15 years of age, the Arsenal faithful were handed their first opportunity to witness the quality and talent of academy star Max Dowman.
The highlight of his debut campaign undoubtedly came against Everton, as he picked up the ball from his own half, before flying past two defenders and slotting home into an empty net.
However, the 2026/27 campaign has been far from ideal for the teenager, who has already endured a moment to forget during the recent Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The winger was handed a start against the League Two side to showcase his talent, but would fail to finish the encounter after receiving a red card for his reaction to a rash tackle.
Such a decision was seen as a somewhat controversial one by the Gunners faithful, but his tender age no doubt contributed to his reaction to the challenge.
It was a petulant act from Dowman and one that highlighted his inexperience and would suggest he needs more time and support before making his mark in the senior ranks.
There’s no disputing his talent in attacking areas, but he will need to work on his personal development if he is to be a first-team regular in the near future.
How Arsenal can secure a mega Dowman upgrade this winter
The injuries and lack of depth have catapulted Dowman into the senior ranks, but it could be a little too soon for him to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.
He wouldn’t even be in this current position had the recruitment team fulfilled their remit during the summer window and landed the talents needed in attacking areas.
However, the likes of Andrea Berta have the opportunity to redeem themselves during the winter window and try to land the forward-minded quality needed for sustained success.
Numerous names have emerged on the Gunners’ shortlist in recent weeks, with reports around a move for RB Leipzig star Antonio Nusa refusing to go away.
It’s now been reported by Tuttomercatoweb that Arsenal are still conducting work to land the Norwegian international when the January window opens.
Their report states that Italian outfit Roma are also closely monitoring a deal for the 21-year-old this winter, but the financial aspect of the move could be tricky for the Serie A side.
The Bundesliga side are said to be demanding at least €70m (£60m) to offload the talented attacker, who has started the new campaign in remarkable fashion.
Nusa has been a leading force in Leipzig’s hunt for success and has managed to massively outperform Arsenal star Dowman during the opening months of the 2026/27 season.
The Norwegian has registered 10 combined goals and assists during his 12 appearances across all competitions, a figure that is five times higher than the Gunners teenager.
His impressive ability within attacking areas is further highlighted by his tally of 2.7 successful dribbles per 90 in Germany’s top-flight – a figure ranking him above 90% of attackers in Europe.
Such a figure has seen him better Dowman throughout recent months, whilst being able to offer a better end product than the talented teenager to date.
Most G+As in the Bundesliga (2026/27) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Club | Goals | Assists | G+A |
Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | 6 | 3 | 9 |
Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 4 | 5 | 9 |
Niclas Füllkrug | Werder Bremen | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Patrik Schick | Leverkusen | 6 | 2 | 8 |
Antonio Nusa | RB Leipzig | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Marco Grüll | Werder Bremen | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Younes Ebnoutalib | Frankfurt | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Anthony Caci | Mainz | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Alongside his goalscoring ability, Nusa has also bettered the Englishman in terms of his chance creation – with the winger registering 2.5 chances created per 90.
The aforementioned is nearly two times higher than that of Dowman this term, whilst also bettering 92% of players in his position within Europe’s top-five leagues.
Such quality has seen him receive huge praise over the last couple of months, with content creator Dougie Critchley claiming he possesses “world-class potential.”
£60m for a player of his proven quality and potential could be an excellent deal for Arteta’s men as they aim to go back-to-back in the Premier League.
It could also be perfect for Dowman, as such a move would take the responsibility off him to deliver and allow the teenager to play with freedom to reach his own potential.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
