Arsenal lose their wunderkind. How long Max Douman is sidelined
The 15-year-old Englishman sustained an injury on Saturday during a friendly match against Manchester United’s youth team after a tough collision with an opponent.
Details: According to The Athletic, Arsenal midfielder Max Douman is expected to be out for around two months after suffering ankle ligament damage. On a positive note, the young prodigy will not require surgery.
Earlier, the London club confirmed that Douman was excluded from the Champions League squad, with Gabriel Jesus taking his place. According to new UEFA regulations, clubs are allowed to replace an outfield player in European competitions if their injury absence lasts at least 60 days.
Head coach Mikel Arteta stated during his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Brugge:
"Unfortunately, Max picked up an injury last weekend. We’ve done the scans, and he’ll be out for a few weeks."
Douman impressed this summer and made his first-team debut in August against Leeds (5-0), becoming the second-youngest player in club history after Ethan Nwaneri. In November, he made Champions League history as the youngest-ever player in the competition—15 years and 308 days old.
Notably, Douman has already made five first-team appearances for Arsenal.
Reminder: Ajax will sign former Arsenal player Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
