Max Dowman: Arsenal's 'special' wonderkid who has wowed Declan Rice and Mikel Arteta
The hype around Max Dowman is nothing new, but that doesn't make it any less exciting for Arsenal fans.
The 15-year-old attacking midfielder has been on the radar for over a year, having broken records during his rapid ascent through the club's academy. But now he's coming good on that potential in pre-season with Mikel Arteta 's squad.
First he caught the eye as the Gunners defeated AC Milan 1-0 in their opening pre-season friendly. Then he took things to another level against Newcastle as they came through 3-2 against their Premier League opponents.
Dowman is still extremely young and inexperienced, but the raw talent he possesses means that Arteta could hand him more opportunities in the upcoming 2025/26 season. So here Mirror Football tells you all you need to know about the youngster.
Wilshere prodigy
Dowman has been turning heads at Arsenal's Hale End youth training ground for some time, having set a new record as the youngest player to score in the UEFA Youth League, at 14 years, eight months and 19 days, back in September.
In the age of readily available highlights clips, the excitement has been there for some time. Dowman had the perfect coach and mentor for some of his time in the youth set-up in the form of Jack Wilshere.
The former Arsenal and England midfielder was a coach in the Arsenal academy until October, when he left for Norwich. Having made his own Arsenal debut at the age of 16 years and 256 days – making him the club's youngest-ever league debutant at the time – Wilshere has a unique perspective on the subject.
'There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you're good enough, you're old enough,' he said last year.
"He can be more consistent but he's only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet. We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.' That process has gone pretty well so far.
Under Rice's wing
While they have been wary with Dowman, Arsenal have not been shy in testing him at higher levels. The left-footed attacking midfielder became the youngest ever Premier League 2 player in December and has also played for the England under-17s as a 14-year-old.
He was invited to Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai in the winter where Declan Rice took him under his wing, in the hope he can replicate the success of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
'I have had so many texts about Max recently,' Rice told BBC Radio 5 Live in March. 'At 15, there is such a long way to go. You can be the best 15-year-old in the country, but it doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be at 18.
'So, you need to be hungry, keep working and keep pushing. I speak to Max a lot and he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal.'
Speaking about Arsenal's young trio of Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri and Dowman, Rice added: 'I have a great relationship with all three of them, because Max gets to train with us quite a lot. I have kind of taken these three under my wing, because I have been in that position before and I had older players help me out. I get on well with all of them and they are really comfortable around me, which is all part of having a good relationship.'
'Very fast steps'
With Dowman not turning 16 until New Year 's Eve, Arsenal have a duty of care with Dowman and Arteta has been clear that they won't rush his development. 'Very impressive at his age,' he said earlier this year. ''He's a player with a huge talent that we have a lot belief that we can develop him into becoming one of our own and he's doing very well so far.
'At the moment with all the legislation there are a lot of restrictions, something that in other countries you don't even mention. We will have to wait and see. He's taking very fast steps because every time you give him a different challenge or put him at a different level he overcomes that quickly which is great. We are on it.'
Arteta's delight
Dowman scored a penalty in the shoot-out after the Milan win after he came off the bench for Bukayo Saka. He played on the right wing, showing no signs of nerves against the Italian giants and was even better against Newcastle.
It was his run down the right wing that drew a foul from Joelinton for Arsenal's late penalty. And it is clear that Arteta wouldn't hesitate to throw him into competitive matches now.
"It is special,' Arteta said after the Newcastle game. 'What he's done today against this team in the time that he had on the pitch, it is something certainly not common to witness for a 15-year-old. We are extremely happy to have him.
"The environment that is around him, his family, the people at the club and academy are super helpful because they put him in this position so early in his journey, having a real chance and a real presence when he plays for the first team."
Referring to Dowman, Marli Salmon and Josh Nichols, he added after the Milan win: 'I think they are able to play at that level at 15 years old in my opinion because of the environment and culture that is within the team.
'When somebody makes you feel so comfortable and so confident straightaway you can go and do it. At least it gives you the best chance and then you have to have the qualities this kid has to deliver against opposition like this.
'There is a lot of work in our academy of the coaches, people involved and it is a moment to give opportunities and reward them. They certainly took their chance today in difficult circumstances against a very big team. Incredible how at 15 years old they can perform at that level.'
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