According to a report by GiveMeSport on October 18, 2026, Mikel Arteta has been urged to start teenage sensation Max Dowman on the left wing when Arsenal face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with Christos Tzolis unavailable because of a hamstring injury.

The Gunners travel to the City Ground on Sunday looking to secure a positive result, but Arteta faces a selection dilemma on the left side of his attack. Tzolis picked up the injury while representing Greece earlier this month and has not featured since Arsenal returned from the international break.

In his absence, Arteta has experimented with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze in the position. Madueke was deployed on the left against Leeds United in Arsenal’s previous Premier League fixture, while Eze occupied the role during the Champions League encounter against Lille.

However, neither player has done enough to establish himself as the clear first-choice option in that position, according to the report.

As a result, Dowman has been suggested as an unconventional alternative for the trip to Nottingham Forest.

The 16-year-old has primarily played on the right wing during his early career because of his left-footedness. However, his technical ability and attacking qualities could make him an interesting option on the opposite flank.

With Martin Ødegaard occupying the right-sided attacking midfield role and Bukayo Saka established on the right wing, opportunities in those positions are limited. The left flank, meanwhile, could provide Arteta with an opportunity to give the highly rated youngster more playing time.

Dowman’s statistics suggest he possesses the dribbling ability to trouble opposition defenders. During the 2025/26 campaign, he recorded one Premier League goal in six appearances, accumulating 153 minutes of league football.

His ability to carry the ball, beat defenders and create attacking opportunities could offer Arsenal another dimension in the final third.

Playing on the left could also allow Dowman to use his stronger foot to deliver crosses and cut-backs into dangerous areas. Arsenal are expected to enjoy periods of possession against Forest, potentially giving the teenager opportunities to combine with his technically gifted teammates.

However, deploying him in an unfamiliar position would carry some risks, particularly given his age and limited senior experience.

Arteta could introduce Eze or Madueke from the bench if the experiment fails to produce the desired results.

Nevertheless, the report argues that Dowman’s potential makes him an option worth considering, especially with Arsenal looking to strengthen their attacking threat.