GOOD NEWS:Mikel Arteta adds two teenage players to Arsenal first-team squad ahead of Dubai training camp

Arsenal have included two teenagers - 15-year-old Max Dowman and Jack Porter, who is 16 - in their squad which will head to Dubai

The Gunners will head to the Middle East to take part in a warm weather training camp and have included some of their teenage prospects. Mikel Arteta's side have a gap in their schedule with the team already out of the FA Cup ahead of the fourth round games this weekend.

Arsenal have often included young players in first-team training but, with Dowman and Porter included, they will take a staff member from Academy Player Care as well as Under-21 manager Mehmet Ali to help the youngsters transition into the group, reports the Athletic.

Back in September Dowman became the youngest player to score in the UEFA Youth League at the age of 14 years, eight months and 19 days. Months later he became the youngest player to represent Arsenal at under-21 level, a month before he turned 15, underlining his swift development.

Goalkeeper Porter has enjoyed similar milestones and became the youngest player to ever start a game for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Bolton Wanderers in September.

Despite being included Dowman cannot play in this season’s Premier League. Competition rules state that no player below the under-16 age group can be named in a matchday squad.

Arsenal have seen how their academy can aid the first-team with several individuals thriving this term, albeit they are a few years ahead of Dowman and Porter in their development. Ethan Nwaneri became the club's youngest player two seasons ago but has flourished this term. Myles Lewis-Skelly too has made himself a regular at left-back.

The Gunners will head to Dubai following a damaging defeat at Newcastle, which ended up their hopes of landing the Carabao Cup and places further onus on their Premier League and Champions League ambitions. Last season they headed to Dubai and it helped transform their season.

In January 2024, they left for Duvai off the back of a run of one win in seven games, where scoring goals were a major problem. Upon returning though they began a run of eight consecutive league wins, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four.