Max Dowman: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises 15-year-old’s personality and courage as he becomes youngest player in Champions League | Football news
Mikel Arteta believes Max Dowman’s personality and courage on the pitch is unteachable – after the 15-year-old made history to become the youngest player in the Champions League.
Dowman was introduced as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3–0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League, becoming the first player of his age to play in Europe’s premier club competition at 15 years and 308 days old.
It came six days after he became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter in a dazzling Carabao Cup performance against Brighton.
In the Czech Republic, Dowman immediately won a foul on a defender after his first touches of the ball and the Arsenal manager says age is just a number when it comes to a striker.
“What he did on the pitch: he comes in, the first ball he takes, he attacks people, he starts dribbling and makes a foul,” Arteta said.
“It’s personality, it’s courage – and that can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t.
Dowman is the first 15-year-old in the Champions League
“And it doesn’t matter what his passport says. You put him in that context and he’s able to adapt and put in a good performance.”
Next up: Dowman’s Rise
“Carrying the ball has always been his great strength,” said Temisan Williams, former Arsenal academy coach and now founder of Coach Accelerator Masterclass Community – said Aerial sports.
“I coached Max all season when he was an under-11 player and from the start I said to myself: ‘Okay, there’s something very special about this young man’.
Dowman is now the most talked about teenager in Europe. He made his first team debut and then competitive debut in a matter of weeks in August – he is now taking his game to the Champions League.
All of which begs the question: how far can he go? And at what speed?
“Champions League, World Cup, Premier League,” says Williams. “He’s got all the ability; he’s got the mentality. Mikel Arteta wouldn’t bring him into the fold at this age if he didn’t.”
There can no longer be any doubt: Max Dowman is Following.
Read more about Max Dowman’s development at Arsenal’s academy here.
