Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, praised the exceptional performance of Max Dowman, a 15-year-old prodigy who made history as the youngest-ever starter for the club during their 2-0 victory against Brighton in the League Cup fourth round on Wednesday. The match at Emirates Stadium saw goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka in the second half, securing a quarter-final home game against Crystal Palace for the Premier League leaders.
Despite his young age, Dowman captivated the audience with a remarkable display, earning a standing ovation when he was substituted in the second half. Arteta commended Dowman’s poised performance, noting his natural demeanor and humble reaction to being selected for the starting lineup.
Describing Dowman’s casual approach, Arteta mentioned, “He just does what he does best, which is to play football. To play football with a lot of courage and determination, and today again, he has shown some incredible skill, some capacity to run past players at that level in the Premier League at 15. It’s definitely something special.”
Previously making appearances as a substitute in league matches against Leeds and Liverpool, as well as in the last round of the League Cup against Port Vale, Dowman’s impressive debut as a starter has raised expectations for more regular playing time. Arteta emphasized the importance of managing Dowman’s development carefully due to the rapid pace of his rise in professional football.
Arteta expressed, “Let’s encourage him to keep going that way, but let’s protect him as well,” highlighting the need to support Dowman as he navigates newfound challenges in his burgeoning career.