Mikel Arteta has admitted that Max Dowman is “a joy to watch” amid rumours that he may leave Arsenal on loan during the upcoming January transfer window.

The 16-year-old has only made one Premier League appearance so far this season and it’s understood that Arsenal could potentially sanction a loan deal this winter, with Arteta recently hinting that a temporary exit may be considered by the club’s hierarchy.

Dowman has already made 16 first-team appearances for Arsenal, scoring three goals, and he is now the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history and the youngest player to ever feature in the Champions League.

He is expected to become a senior England international within the near future, and Argentina legend Lionel Messi has now given a ringing endorsement of the Arsenal starlet.

In a new advert for Adidas, Messi included Dowman in a list of 10 youngsters he believes will develop into superstars and the Gunners youngster was spotted wearing the new Messi F50 ‘Futbol y Familia’ boots ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash versus Lille on Tuesday.

“If Messi, who is the best ever player, says that,” Arteta said when questioned about Messi’s verdict. “His eyes are, I think, better than anybody else’s. Hopefully he’s right.”

When asked why Dowman may have caught Messi’s attention, Arteta added: “That he’s got something special. In the few appearances that he had, he’s already done remarkable things. That’s somebody that is touched with a special gift.

“He’s a joy to watch. The way he moves, the way he touches the ball, the way he carries himself, it’s just different. And that’s what makes him unique.”

Will Max Dowman leave Arsenal on loan?

Dowman has reportedly attracted significant transfer attention ahead of the winter window, with a host of clubs believed to have already confirmed their interest to Arsenal, including Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers.

The prospect of playing regular senior football during the second half of the season may be appealing to Dowman, and it could represent a fantastic opportunity for the Arsenal hierarchy to fast-track his development even further.

However, the Gunners have one fewer attacker at their disposal this campaign thanks to the late summer sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, and they may therefore be reluctant to lose Dowman as they look to compete on multiple fronts this term.