Arsenal Hit With Fresh Injury Setback as Max Dowman Suffers Ankle Damage

Arsenal have been dealt yet another injury setback ahead of their Champions League meeting with Club Brugge on Wednesday, as teenage sensation Max Dowman has been ruled out for up to two months with an ankle ligament injury.

The update was confirmed by trusted journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, who revealed on Tuesday that the 15-year-old England youth international picked up the injury during a friendly against Manchester United. Fortunately for Arsenal, while the damage is significant, Dowman is not expected to require surgery.

Ornstein wrote on X:

“Max Dowman expected to be out for approximately 2 months after suffering ankle ligament damage.
15yo England youth int’l attacker injured in challenge by opponent in #AFC friendly v Manchester United – but anticipated surgery not required.”

Opinion: A Blow Beyond the Headlines

Injuries are part of football, but this one stings for Arsenal — not just because it weakens squad depth, but because it interrupts the momentum of a young star who has been turning heads quietly but seriously.

Max Dowman may be only 15, but he plays with the confidence of a seasoned professional. Arsenal fans have been buzzing about him, seeing him as one of the brightest jewels in the club’s academy crown. Losing him, even temporarily, is like watching a blooming flower get caught in unexpected rain — the growth pauses, the excitement slows, but the beauty isn’t lost.

The positive? No surgery needed. At his age, recovery time and careful management matter more than rushing him back onto the pitch. Arsenal have learned painful lessons in the past with young talents; this is the moment to protect, not push.

With the Champions League demanding every ounce of creativity and energy, Dowman’s absence leaves a noticeable void. But if there’s anything Arsenal fans know too well, it’s resilience. And when Dowman returns, he’ll come back hungrier, sharper, and even more determined to show why the club believes so strongly in him.

For now, the Gunners must march on — but they’ll certainly be missing a spark that could have lit up the months ahead.