Arsenal are open to letting Max Dowman go out on loan once he turns 17

Why the next six months matter for Max Dowman's loan

The winter transfer window is scheduled to open following Dowman's birthday.

Luton manager Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal midfielder, is believed to have expressed an interest in taking the teenager to the League One club, according to a BBC Sport report on Friday.

Dowman set two records last season, as the youngest player to score in Premier League history, at 16 years and 73 days, and he is the youngest ever to start a game for the club.

While he is yet to play in the top flight this term, but marked his first appearance of the season with two goals in Tuesday's 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich.

Mikel Arteta stressed that he wants to keep Dowman involved in his senior squad, and said the club will take the decision in stages.

"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," said the Gunners' coach.

"We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and to impact the team," he added.

Arteta is still guarded about whether a move would come too early.

"There have been many cases of that age when they have gone out and been successful and others not," he said.

"In my particular case, I was 17 when I went to Paris."

Dowman, who sat his GCSEs in the summer, played 13 times last term as Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League.

Arteta has firm views on preparing a squad, saying he ruins Arsenal's pre-season on purpose so nothing surprises them.

The youngster is chasing minutes in a squad that has just been through a £200m summer rebuild.