Forgotten Arsenal star seen back in training gives fans boost as title charge takes wobble

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Arsenal have been handed a welcome boost in their bid to win the Premier League , as teenage prodigy Max Dowman has returned to training following his injury layoff. The Gunners' hopes of holding onto top spot in the table took a hit on Wednesday after a disappointing 2-2 draw away to bottom-side Wolverhampton Wanderers .

The result, sealed by a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from the home side, stretched Arsenal's run without a league victory to two games and means they have dropped points in five of their last seven outings.

More troublingly, it has also given Manchester City the opportunity to cut the deficit at the top to only two points when they meet Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Dowman, 16, has been sidelined since November due to an ankle problem. While he is not yet a regular fixture in Mikel Arteta's plans, his presence back on the training ground has been enthusiastically welcomed by fans craving encouraging updates at a pivotal point in the campaign.

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The club uploaded clips from a recent senior training session to their official YouTube account on Wednesday, and supporters quickly responded after noticing the highly regarded youngster taking an active role in the exercises. "Max is back!!!" one wrote.

"Really glad to see Dowman back, we need him badly," added another. "Max Dowman let's gooooo," posted a third, while a fourth shared: "My boy Dowman is looking good. Get him back in the team ASAP."

Dowman has not been included in Arsenal's matchday squad since the north London derby in November. The Gunners take on Tottenham again this weekend, though the fixture could come too soon for the youngster to complete his on-field comeback.

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Earlier this week, Arteta explained that the midfielder was making "good progress" with his rehabilitation, but indicated that fans might have to be patient a little longer before he returns to competitive matches. "Max is still not available," the Spaniard said.

"We will see when we have the medical meeting. He's progressing very well. I believe he will join us in about a week or so, and then he just needs to regain his rhythm and be ready for selection."

Anticipation and excitement around Dowman's potential has been building steadily at Emirates Stadium in recent months. The gifted teenager impressed on his senior debut during a pre-season friendly against AC Milan last summer.

He later set a new milestone by becoming Arsenal's youngest-ever starter, selected in the starting XI to face Brighton in the fourth round of the EFL Cup at just 15 years and 302 days old back in October.

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Just days afterward, he entered the record books once more by becoming the youngest player to feature in the Champions League , coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 group-stage win over Slavia Prague.

"For him, everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It is the way he plays," Arteta said about Dowman in October. "That's the secret, that he doesn't make a big fuss of it. He just does what he does best which is to play football with a lot of courage and determination."

His brief appearance against Slavia Prague remains his latest senior outing for Arsenal . In the subsequent weeks, Dowman was listed among the substitutes for several Premier League matches but did not get on the pitch before an ankle issue eventually ruled him out.

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