Max Dowman ban loophole available for Carabao Cup final against Man City

A loophole that circumvents a Max Dowman ban could benefit Arsenal ahead of their Carabao Cup final clash with Manchester City

They say age is just a number, but for Max Dowman it has posed a unique challenge this season. The 16-year-old Arsenal starlet carved his name into the history books last weekend by becoming the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer when he netted his side's second in a crucial 2-0 win over Everton.

However, he was denied the chance to celebrate with his team-mates in the dressing room. This is because, as per Premier League regulations, players under the age of 18 must use separate changing facilities from the senior squad, both on matchdays and for training sessions.

That restriction may not apply this Sunday, though, when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, as EFL rules differ. Football.london understands that there is no requirement in EFL competitions for U18s players to change separately from the senior squad.

Instead, clubs are advised to consult with the player's parents or guardians beforehand to ensure everyone is comfortable with the arrangement. Wembley does provide separate facilities should Dowman and his family prefer that option - but ultimately, the decision rests with the club, the player and his family, rather than being enforced by the EFL.

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Many have been tipping Dowman for a future at the very top since he dazzled on his first-team debut in a pre-season friendly against AC Milan last summer aged just 15. He then became the second-youngest player in Premier League history when he came on as a substitute against Leeds in August, before making further history two months later as Arsenal's youngest-ever starter in an EFL Cup clash with Brighton.

A few weeks later, he set another milestone, becoming the youngest player to feature in the Champions League after coming off the bench in Arsenal's win over Slavia Prague in November. An ankle injury sidelined him for three months, but he marked his return against Everton by breaking James Vaughan's long-standing record as the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

His heroics led some to suggest he'd done enough to earn an England call up, and while Three Lions boss Thomas argued that including him in his latest squad at such a young age might put unnecessary pressure on him, he did leave the door open for a call up later down the line.

"He's a fantastic talent. We still have a chance to call him for the World Cup," Tuchel said at an England press conference on Friday. "At the moment he competes for minutes so he's not a regular starter for Arsenal. He is in the best environment possible, he has to keep going.

"Why wouldn't I keep the door open? I keep the door open for anyone with any age... it's impressive what he's doing. It's impressive the feedback I get from players and people who know him, and we have a look at it and we make the last decision when we build the squad in May."

Dowman is expected to be included in Arsenal's squad for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Man City at Wembley. The youngster featured in the Gunners' third and fourth round wins over Port Vale and Brighton, but missed the quarter-final and semi-final ties against Crystal Palace and Chelsea through injury.

Should Arsenal overcome their title rivals under the arch, it could mark the beginning of a historic quadruple, with the club riding high in the Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup.

If Dowman makes an appearance, he would become the youngest player ever to feature in a Carabao Cup final, surpassing the record set by Arsenal's Armand Traore, who started the 2007 final defeat to Chelsea aged 17 years and 140 days.