Max Dowman has caught the eye for Arsenal during pre-season.
The teenage sensation was called up to Mikel Arteta’s squad for their trips to Singapore and Hong Kong, and seized the opportunity with both hands, impressing in all of his cameos off the bench.
Already earning comparisons to Lamine Yamal, the Gunners’ supporters are growing increasingly excited about what the Hale End graduate could develop into.
However, Dowman isn’t expected to feature regularly for Arsenal’s first team next season, with the North London club eager to allow him to integrate slowly.
Dowman was granted his first senior appearance against AC Milan in Singapore.
Introduced in place of Bukayo Saka in the 66th minute, the starlet made an impact, looking to take players on and get shots off in his short time on the pitch.
Arsenal fans were amazed by Dowman’s maturity, composure on the ball and ability to not look out of place against grown men.
The youngster only turned 15 in December, and despite the outside world being dumbfounded by his first showing on the big stage, he wasn’t satisfied.
Ray Parlour, who went on tour as an ambassador for Arsenal, revealed that Dowman told him after that game that he felt he could have performed better in certain areas.
“He played against AC Milan and he did so well, do you know what he said to me?” said Parlour on talkSPORT.
“He said, ‘I could have done better in certain parts of the game’. I said, wait a minute Max, you’re 15 years old and playing for Arsenal’s first team, don’t expect too much, go out there and express yourself and enjoy yourself.
“He’s such a well-grounded young man.”
Dowman’s dissatisfaction with minor details in a short cameo in pre-season suggests he has the right mentality to go to the very top of the game.
Arsenal are concerned Dowman is garnering too much attention, but it’s clear that the 15-year-old is unfazed by the magnitude of the noise around him.
While some fans may be frustrated by reports that Dowman is unlikely to be given regular minutes next season, it makes sense for his development.
As talented as he is, he needs time to grow physically and doesn’t need the pressure of being thrust into the limelight from such a young age.
Pep Guardiola took a similar approach when developing Phil Foden at Manchester City, and this has certainly paid dividends.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Parlour compared Foden’s situation at the Etihad to Dowman’s at the Emirates.
“It’s all down to the player to keep improving and working hard,” Parlour said.
“If you can learn from people like Declan Rice and guys like that. It’s a bit like Phil Foden.
“People were saying ‘why isn’t he going on loan’, and Pep Guardiola was saying ‘he’s playing with [Kevin] De Bruyne, he can improve by playing with top players in training every day’, that’s how they nurtured him and I’m sure Max will be similar.”
