Arteta sends warning to Dowman after reality check for Arsenal wonderkid

Mikel Arteta has warned Max Dowman that he will have to earn his minutes like ever other player after the Arsenal teenager was left out of the latest matchday squad.

Dowman, 16, who became the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer when he netted against Everton last season, is one of the club's brightest prospects but is yet to play a minute this season.

After being on the bench for their opening four games he was left out for the win at Sunderland and subsequently dropped down to the U21 side, where he helped them record a dominant win over Chelsea.

Arsenal have continued to bolster their attacking ranks with Christos Tzolis a summer arrival. He further adds to the competition in the final third and Dowman has been a victim, missing out on a matchday squad with the first team, with Arteta warning the young star that his chance will come - but once he justifies selection.

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He said: "Well, I wish we could have him here [at Sunderland], but we have a limitation with the numbers we have. Max will have his chance. He will have his minutes and he will have to earn them like anybody else. You know the talent that we have, the players that we have there, we need to help him and find a way to make sure he continues to develop."

Arteta has been vocal about a desire to see more spots on the bench open up. Currently it is capped at 20, but the Arsenal boss has admitted he wants the Premier League to increase that figure, which would likely receive opposition given the change would serve the sides with deeper squads.

Arsenal's next outing is a Carabao Cup clash at Ipswich, their fourth games in nine days, and changes are expected at Portman Road with several young players poised for minutes.

Arteta said on his plan: "We will look at the players eyes, they will say they want to play, they want to win the game, they want to improve and they want to review the [Sunderland] game and they will be willing for me, because I know the boys."

Arsenal's wealth of attacking talent has already seen Ethan Nwaneri, their youngest ever player and previously seen as a rising star, head out on loan for the second successive season. Last term he went to Marseille and this summer headed out to Borussia Dortmund with opportunities not forthcoming.