Arsenal’s Hale End academy is back producing, this time in record fashion.
The junior Gunners faced Atalanta in the UEFA Youth League in a fixture corresponding to the senior side’s Champions League match up.
Max Dowman found the back of the net in styleGetty
The game at the Venue Stadio Comunale in Bergamo took place at lunch time, and starlet Max Dowman made history.
Scoring Arsenal’s only goal of the match, the midfielder did so at the age of 14 years, eight months and 19 days, a new record as the youngest player to find the back of the net in the competition’s history.
The English talent takes the record from Nice loanee Youssoufa Moukoko, who is the only other 14-year-old on the list thanks to his effort for Borussia Dortmund’s youth side.
Another familiar name is that of Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, who’s listed sixth having scored for Ajax at the age of 15 years, four months and ten days.
Dowman is now out ahead, though, and he’s already on the radar of the club and supporters.
He’d already been playing above his age group for the under-15s, and has since been called up to Jack Wilshere’s under-18 squad.
Recently commenting on the young talent, Wilshere said: “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 the game because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.
“Hopefully, we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team he’ll be more ready.”
For the U18s, he already has a goal and two assists in four matches across the U18 Premier League and Cup.
Dowman is also an England youth internationalGetty
Wearing the no.10 shirt, he recently scored a glorious goal with his weaker foot that will have drawn plenty of attention.
Despite Dowman likely stealing the headlines with his record breaking Youth League goal, it did in fact come in an Atalanta victory, with the Italians winning 4-1.
Mikel Arteta’s senior side will then face off against Gian Piero Gasperini’s equivalent later in the day.
The 2024 Europa League winners may present a problem for the Gunners, who recently announced that captain Martin Odegaard is set to be out for an extended period.
That has opened up space in their midfield, which could have benefits for Dowman.
Another beneficiary may also be Ethan Nwaneri, who became the club’s youngest-ever first team player in 2022 at 15 years and 181 days.
Nwaneri, now 17, has three first team appearances to his name, with his last outing against Tottenham in the north London derby.
Nwaneri came off the bench to replace another academy graduate, Bukayo Saka, a man he and Dowman will be dreaming of replicating in the coming years.
