Arsenal's victory over Everton last weekend extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points, positioning the club with what some commentators describe as a real chance of winning at least two trophies this season. The team faces Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday at Wembley Stadium, a match that could define their pursuit of silverware. While some argue Arsenal are on the brink of achieving greatness under Mikel Arteta this season, others contend they aren't that good and are winning the title not because they're special, reflecting a split in media perception about the team's current strength and future trajectory.
Injury updates loom large ahead of these crucial matches. Mikel Arteta has offered a glimmer of hope that captain Martin Odegaard could be available for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, though it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to play. Odegaard has been sidelined since the 4-1 victory over Tottenham on 22 February due to a knee injury and is set to miss Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber sustained an undisclosed injury and limped off during the first half of Saturday's 2-0 win against Everton, with the exact nature and severity of his injury unknown. Arteta noted that Timber's injury will be a matter of days, but they are not sure, adding to the uncertainty ahead of key fixtures.
We are really pushing him. He really wants to try to be available but we’ll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team.
Amid these concerns, young forward Max Dowman has enjoyed a breakthrough season. Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history earlier this month in a 2-0 win against Everton. He made his first-team debut in 2025 and caught the eye earlier this month in an FA Cup fixture against Mansfield Town. Arteta introduced Dowman as Arsenal chased the game versus Everton, and Dowman assisted Viktor Gyokeres' breakthrough and scored in stoppage time. His impact and potential have led to suggestions that the World Cup could take priority over his GCSEs this summer, though it is unknown whether he will be called up to the England squad for the upcoming tournament, highlighting the rapid rise of the teenager.
Controversy has emerged over Dowman's future at Arsenal. talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham believes Max Dowman's future would be best served by leaving Arsenal as soon as possible. Durham highlighted the career trajectories of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as evidence that Dowman should leave Arsenal. Nwaneri is currently on loan at Marseille, having been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal, while Lewis-Skelly has been relegated to third-choice left-back and has lost his place in the senior England set-up. This debate touches on broader uncertainties about the long-term impact of Arteta's management on young talents like Dowman, Nwaneri, and Lewis-Skelly, with some questioning Arsenal's ability to nurture emerging stars.
We know the game that we’re going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better.
Arteta has responded to Dowman's development with cautious optimism. When asked about regular first-team action for the youngster, Arteta responded that Max Dowman could have regular first-team action, depending on the game and his reaction. Defender Riccardo Calafiori praised Max Dowman, highlighting his maturity despite his youth. This praise comes amid comparisons to Theo Walcott, who earned a call-up to the England squad for the 2006 World Cup after his breakthrough but later admitted it was a blunder, underscoring the delicate balance in managing young prospects.
Defensive developments and contract situations provide further context. Jurrien Timber has emerged as one of the world's best right-backs this term, though he suffered an ACL injury in his first match for Arsenal in August 2023. William Saliba has a contract until 2030, securing a key defensive asset. Marli Salmon, a 16-year-old Hale End prodigy, has featured four times this season and is hailed as Saliba's heir, indicating Arsenal's investment in youth depth and long-term planning in defense.
We don’t know. I think with him it will be a matter of days, but we’re not sure.
In goal, David Raya could win a third successive Premier League Golden Glove award this season, according to some reports. This achievement would bolster Arsenal's defensive record as they navigate a packed schedule. The team drew the first leg of the Champions League last-16 against Bayer Leverkusen 1-1, setting up a decisive second leg that could impact their European ambitions.
Arteta's own contract situation and team management remain topics of interest. He is expected to sign a new contract, keeping him at Arsenal beyond 2027. Arteta confirmed Leandro Trossard is fit for the Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen, providing a boost ahead of the critical fixture. His handling of injuries, youth integration, and trophy pursuits will likely influence perceptions of his tenure, especially amid media debates over Arsenal's true quality and future prospects, with the Carabao Cup final serving as a key test of their progress this season.
Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly. Depending on the game and how he reacts – I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.
To do what he did in such a moment, it’s very rare to see, or impossible almost. He’s done it and now it’s football and what you’ve done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it’s about the next one.
We know what we have to do and in front of our crowd, with our people, putting all the energy in the world again. Hopefully we’re going to do it.