Max Dowman: Arsenal’s 15-year-old making a pre-season impact

It has been a busy summer for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, with six new signings – including striker Viktor Gyokeres – brought in to boost their Premier League title hopes.

However, it is one of the two 15-year-old academy players on their pre-season tour of Asia who has captured the attention.

Max Dowman and Marli Salmon are the two youngest players in the squad.

And attacking midfielder Dowman has shown in friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle exactly why there is so much excitement about his potential.

Having first trained with the first team when he was 14, Dowman was part of the senior squad that travelled to Dubai in January for their winter training camp.

There was even talk around that time about the England youth international getting a call-up to the side following an injury crisis, with key forwards Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all sidelined at various times through injury.

Dowman replaced England international Saka in both pre-season friendlies. While he showed moments of skill in the AC Milan match, it was the performance against Newcastle that showed why he has been tipped for a Premier League debut this season.

A delightful dribble into the area, which ended with Dowman being fouled by Joelinton for a penalty that handed Arsenal a 3-2 victory, was one of the standout moments of the game.

“It is special,” said Arteta when asked about the youngster’s display against Newcastle.

“Obviously what he’s done today against this team in the time that he had on the pitch is something certainly not common to witness for a 15-year-old.

“We are extremely happy to have him. I think, again, the environment that he’s around in, his family, the people at the club and around the academy as well, super helpful, because they put him into this position so early in his journey – having a real chance and a real presence when he plays for the first time.”