Ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere has tried and failed to sign Max Dowman on loan (Picture: Reuters) Luton Town’s chief recruitment officer Mick Harford says Jack Wilshere has tried to take Max Dowman on loan from Arsenal a ‘couple of times’ – but Mikel Arteta has blocked the youngster’s exit. Long tipped as a future star while rising through Arsenal’s academy ranks, Dowman burst onto the scene last season, scoring a sublime goal against Everton to help steer the Gunners to the Premier League title. The 16-year-old, widely regarded to be among the brightest young talents in European football, took centre-stage for Arsenal on Tuesday night, completing a stunning brace in the side’s Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich. In the summer, there were even calls for Dowman to receive a senior England call-up and and while Thomas Tuchel resisted the urge to take the attacking midfielder to the World Cup, it’s surely only a matter of time before he makes his bow for the Three Lions. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. First, though, Dowman will be looking to step up his playing time at club level, with his appearance this week representing his first start of the season for the north Londoners. There had been speculation throughout the recent transfer window that Dowman may be allowed to leave on loan with a view to boosting his first-team minutes – but it’s clear Arteta wanted him for selection. ‘I think Jack [Wilshere] asked him [Arteta] a couple of times, but I don’t think he’ll be going out on loan,’ Luton chief Harford – the former England forward – told talkSPORT. Dowman lit up Portman Road on Tuesday evening (Picture: Getty) Wilshere took over as manager of Luton last year (Picture: Getty) Dowman’s meteoric rise has often been compared to that of Wilshere, now the manager of League One outfit Luton, who broke out of Arsenal’s academy ranks as a supremely gifted youngster back in 2008. Though curtailed by a series of injuries, Wilshere went on to enjoy a stellar career at both club and international level, lifting two FA Cups with the Gunners and winning 34 caps for his country. ‘Jack was a wonderful footballer, he still is on the training ground,’ Harford said of the Luton head coach. ‘He started, not as a wide man, but as a wide man tucking in those little pockets, getting on the ball and creating stuff. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Arteta praises Dowman for rising to challenge after scoring twice in 4-2 cup win over Ipswich","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/09\/16\/8033667320880151518\/480x270_MP4_8033667320880151518.mp4","description":"Mikel Arteta acknowledged it is a joy to work with Arsenal's 'incredible' 16-year-old Max Dowman after he scored twice to inspire a 4-2 win at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup.","duration":"T6M49S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/09\/16\/07\/111278923-0-image-m-152_1789541418976.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-09-16T07:42:20+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); ‘Dowman looks more of a wide man than a pocket player, but a wonderful talent. ‘I think he will get more game-time and I think if he produces, I think Arteta will play him. ‘I’m a believer in if