The 16-year-old Dowman set two records last season, as the youngest player to score in Premier League history and for the Gunners. However, while he is yet to feature in the English top flight this term, he marked his first appearance of the season with two goals in Arsenal's 4-2 win at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Dowman will be eligible to make a loan move when he turns 17 on 31 December, and the winter transfer window is scheduled to open the following day. This has sparked interest from League One side Luton, with their manager Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal midfielder, believed to have expressed an interest in taking the youngster on loan.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen to keep Dowman involved in his senior squad, but will evaluate what is best for the youngster at regular intervals. "We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision," Arteta said. The club will consider factors such as Dowman's needs, the team's needs, and the availability of players in the squad.
Dowman's performance against Ipswich has put him into Arteta's thinking for Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton. "The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office," Arteta added. "Then you just leave out the arguments. When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that's the best way, that's the best signal for the manager. That's the best signal for his team-mates, too."
Arsenal will continue to monitor Dowman's development and make a decision on his loan status in the coming months.