Arsenal fans delighted as forgotten man spotted back in training amid blow to title charge

A player Arsenal fans have been yearning for is back in training after missing months of action with an injury

Arsenal have received a timely lift in their title pursuit, with teenage sensation Max Dowman returning to training after injury. The Gunners' hopes of holding on to top spot in the Premier League suffered a setback on Wednesday following a frustrating 2-2 draw away at bottom club Wolves.

The result, sealed by a gutting injury time Wolves equaliser, extended Arsenal's winless streak in the league to two matches. It has also handed Manchester City the chance to narrow the gap at the summit to just two points when they face Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Dowman, 16, has been out of action since November with an ankle injury. Although he is not yet a staple in Mikel Arteta's first team plans, his return to the training pitch has been warmly received by supporters eager for positive news at a crucial stage of the season.

The club shared footage from a recent first team session on their official YouTube channel on Wednesday, and fans were quick to react after spotting the highly rated youngster heavily involved in the drills. "Max is back!!!" one wrote.

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

Dowman hasn't featured in Arsenal's matchday squad since the north London Derby in November. The Gunners face Tottenham again this Sunday, although the clash may arrive too soon for the teenager to make his return.

Speaking earlier this week, Arteta said the midfielder was making "good progress" in his recovery, but suggested supporters may need to wait a few more weeks before seeing him back in competitive action. "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."

Excitement surrounding Dowman's potential has been growing steadily around the Emirates Stadium for months. The highly rated teenager wowed on his first team debut in a pre-season clash with AC Milan last summer.

He then made history a few months later by becoming Arsenal's youngest-ever starter, named in the XI to face Brighton in the fourth round of the EFL Cup at just 15 years and 302 days old.

Only days later, he etched his name into the record books again by becoming the youngest player to appear in the Champions League, coming off the bench during a 3-0 group-stage victory over Slavia Prague.

"For him, everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It is the way he plays," Arteta said of 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 cameo against Slavia Prague remains his most recent senior appearance for Arsenal. In the weeks that followed, Dowman was named on the bench for several Premier League fixtures but remained an unused substitute before an ankle injury ultimately sidelined him.

Gunners fans will no doubt hope to see him back in action sooner rather than later, particularly after their side's recent blip in form. Arsenal have dropped points in five of their last seven league games, blowing the title race wide open. If ever they needed a boost, it's now.