'You don't want him going up north' - Arsenal told to pull the plug on Max Dowman move

Max Dowman should remain around both his family and the first team at Arsenal rather than going out on loan.

That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

Mikel Arteta admitted last week that the Gunners would potentially be open to loaning the 16-year-old out in the future.

Dowman is set to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 at the end of the year, and already looks to be ready for Premier League football.

The England youth international became the youngest-ever Premier League goal-scorer last season, and netted a brace against Ipswich Town in his first start of the new campaign last week.

Arsenal would be inundated with offers for Dowman should he become available for loan, with countless factors undoubtedly set to be under consideration.

Arsenal must keep Max Dowman 'in that environment'

Arsenal would only feel the need to loan out Dowman for regular first team minutes, but that does not appear to be a current problem.

The teenager broke through last season and made 13 appearances for the senior team, with many coming while he was still just 15 years old.

Dowman has had to wait for his chance this season, but grabbed it with both hands against Ipswich.

"I would not be looking to put him out on loan yet. Let him stay in that environment where he is," King told Football Insider.

"He's training with the first team, and the quality must be very high in that. It'd be far easier for him if he was going to go on a loan. He's probably living at home anyway, so if they're living in Chelmsford, then where does he go? West Ham? Colchester? Ipswich?

"You know, all places within that area. You don't want him going up north, or even abroad. I'd be happy knowing that he's with his family. I'd be happy to know that he's going to be working and training with the first team at Arsenal, which he obviously is."

Jack Wilshere's audacious Dowman bid

Jack Wilshere managed Dowman when he was in charge of the Arsenal Under-18s, and it has since emerged that the Luton Town boss has been in contact with Arteta to ask the question of a possible loan.

"It was just about giving him the right environment, the right challenge at the right time and just get him ready for Mikel," the former midfielder has since said.

"Mikel has done a great job as well over the last six months with him and there’s definitely more to come. The challenge for Max is to make sure it is really, really difficult for Mikel to leave him out and I have no doubt he can do that.

"I’m not going stand here and say we taught him loads and loads, it was giving him the right challenge whether that be in the 18s, or when we decided to put him in the U21s.

"He can do everything. You’d ask him to do something once and he would understand it straight away. It was a pleasure and now I watch on like an Arsenal fan and someone who worked with him.

"Mikel as well has done a top job with him and now it’s his challenge to get into the team. That's a mentality thing for him and I’m sure he will do it this season.”