It’s difficult not to focus on Arsenal‘s best young talents right now. On the day that JJ Gabriel told Manchester United that he wants out in shock fashion, it was the Max Dowman show against Ipswich Town. The teenager, who is still just 16 years old, netted twice and once again stole the show.
Mikel Arteta found himself singing his praises for the umpteenth time in his post-match interview, telling reporters: “Well, I wish we could have him here [at Sunderland], but we have a limitation with the numbers we have.
“Max will have his chance. He will have his minutes and he will have to earn them like anybody else. You know the talent that we have, the players that we have there, we need to help him and find a way to make sure he continues to develop.”
Dowman’s continued progress and the arrival of Andria Bartishvili represent Arsenal’s commitment to the future of Arteta’s side, and they’re not slowing down on that front anytime soon.
The Gunners have now turned their focus towards Austria and one of Europe’s hottest prospects in Luca Weinhandl. The 6’3 midfielder has emerged as a target ahead of 2027, as those in north London look to welcome another future star.
As reported by Caught Offside, Arsenal have now made contact to sign Weinhandl from Sturm Graz after sending club officials to complete in-person checks on the player.
The 17-year-old is high on their list of targets and already has a fan in Arteta. Despite interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, Arsenal’s recent ambitions suggest that their pull power should be the strongest on paper.
Like Dowman, Weinhandl has already enjoyed plenty of first-team experience. In Austria, the midfielder has played 24 games for Sturm Graz’s first-team and even netted two goals in that time – becoming the third-youngest goalscorer in the club’s history.
|
25/26 league stats per 90 |
Luca Weinhandl |
Declan Rice |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
384 |
3,099 |
|
Recoveries |
6.09 |
5.23 |
|
Tackles |
3.05 |
2.03 |
|
Goals |
0.23 |
0.12 |
|
Pass accuracy |
64.5% |
87.3% |
Whilst there is no comparison between Weinhandl, who played just 384 minutes last season, and Declan Rice, the numbers highlight the former’s potential.
In the minutes that he did play, the teenager thrived in and out of possession. Alongside one league goal, the Austrian completed around six recoveries per game. That, in itself, is invaluable for any young player. The talent is there, but so is the work rate.
Dubbed “incredible” by Sturm Graz teammate Otar Kiteishvili, Weinhandl is destined for great things and could be available for as little as £17m in the summer.
That may sound expensive for a 17-year-old, but that price will look like a bargain if the youngster realises his potential in years to come.