A damp night in Singapore, and the Arsenal gamers are going by their remaining warm-ups earlier than a pre-season conflict with Newcastle.
One of many first to take to the pitch is a lean, centered teenager, barely sufficiently old to begin his GCSEs who’s already attracting curious glances from veterans and coaches alike. Max Dowman, simply 15, is a reputation Arsenal followers had solely heard whispers of, shared clips of, however one they may quickly come to know properly.
Dowman had his first style of coaching with the senior squad final season at simply 14. Mikel Arteta noticed sufficient to incorporate him in Arsenal’s winter Dubai journey and once more this summer season for this Asia tour which completed this week. The goal was to not rush him however to regularly expose the gifted midfielder to elite males’s soccer, new environment, packed stadiums, seasoned execs.
And Dowman didn’t simply cope – he thrived. Towards Milan, his first touches have been a direct run at purpose. Later, he coolly transformed a penalty within the shootout. Within the following match in opposition to Newcastle, he confronted an actual Premier League-style check in opposition to Brazil worldwide Joelinton and the physicality of Eddie Howe’s midfield. Dowman not solely held his personal, he received the decisive penalty after drawing a foul from Joelinton.
Usually a No 10 within the youth sides, the place he ‘runs the present’, in keeping with one academy coach, Dowman was deployed broad on the best throughout the tour. It was a check of his tactical adaptability, which he handed with flying colors.
Throughout coaching, he gravitated towards his age-mates, together with fellow 15-year-old Marli Salmon. However equally telling was how the older gamers gravitated towards him. Declan Rice was seen with an arm round Dowman, speaking positioning. Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain and himself a teenage prodigy for Actual Madrid at 16, has taken a transparent curiosity.
Max Dowman, 15, held his personal in opposition to Premier League veterans throughout Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia
Arsenal’s senior stars reminiscent of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have taken younger Dowman underneath their wings
Dowman received the match-winning penalty in opposition to Newcastle when bundled over within the field by Joelinton
Odegaard, now 26, mentioned: ‘I believe the entire squad is de facto good on this manner, serving to the younger gamers. I simply attempt to share my expertise and assist them keep grounded. The standard is there. They simply want the best mindset, the best help, and time to develop.’
Arteta has been particularly hands-on with Dowman, providing steerage throughout warm-ups and even sitting him down for an extended chat within the dugout between coaching periods, as followers chanted his identify.
The Spanish supervisor, a father of two, is deeply conscious of the necessity for steadiness: growth with out burnout, publicity with out exploitation. Dowman can be in the course of his GCSE research simply because the Premier League season begins, no small feat to handle each.
Bodily, Dowman is already well-equipped. At 6ft tall, he didn’t look misplaced when coaching alongside new signing Viktor Gyokeres. Watching from the sidelines, it was onerous to inform who the established star was and who was the uncooked child. Maybe Dowman is already each.
His third and remaining tour look got here in opposition to Tottenham, the place he as soon as once more impressed, twisting previous defenders and taking part in with out concern. However Arteta stays cautious. At 15, the physique remains to be growing. Arsenal’s focus is Dowman’s long-term well being and regular development – not a headline-grabbing debut.
That method displays Arsenal’s wider philosophy. Dowman was launched to the ‘Robust Younger Gunner’ framework when he joined the academy: ‘champion mentality, lifelong learner, environment friendly mover, and staff participant’.
These aren’t simply slogans. They kind the core of his schooling. And Arsenal’s energetic, high-pressing, attacking soccer fits Dowman’s instincts completely.
He’s been forward of the curve for years. At 13, he was already taking part in for the U18s. Final September, he made historical past. With most employees away at a Champions League match in Italy, Dowman turned the youngest ever goalscorer within the UEFA Youth League, netting in opposition to Atalanta for the Underneath 19s aged simply 14 years, eight months and 19 days.
Mikel Arteta has not hid his pleasure at Dowman’s potential, however the Arsenal boss won’t rush the midfielder’s growth
He’ll hope to observe within the footsteps of Myles Lewis-Skelly (left), who broke out into the primary staff from the academy final season
Dowman has been coaching with Arsenal’s first staff since he was simply 14
His mother and father have been there, having flown out on the identical industrial flight as just a few reporters. His father, Robert, a profitable businessman and one-time coach and co-owner of Billericay City Soccer Membership, is described as supportive however not overbearing. The household trusts Arsenal’s employees to handle their son’s growth, each technically and emotionally, and the membership has reciprocated with care and professionalism.
Dowman can’t signal knowledgeable contract till he turns 17 on New Yr’s Eve in 2026, although pre-agreements are frequent. Arsenal have navigated this path earlier than with skills like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest Premier League participant in historical past. However even in that spectacular firm, Dowman’s trajectory feels unusually steep.
This season, he’s anticipated to characteristic usually for the Underneath 21s, regardless of nonetheless being in class. First-team publicity will possible stay measured: occasional coaching, restricted minutes, most safety.
After the Newcastle match, Arteta mentioned: ‘It’s particular. What he’s executed immediately, in opposition to this degree of opposition, within the time he had. It’s one thing you don’t see from a 15-year-old. We’re very glad to have him. His household and the academy employees have all performed an element in serving to him attain this level.’
Arsenal aren’t treating Dowman otherwise, however they’re treating him responsibly. There are not any interviews, no industrial partnerships, no orchestrated PR campaigns. Simply soccer, college and help.
Arsenal academy coach Gustavo Oliveira final 12 months in contrast Dowman to a Brazilian midfield legend: ‘He performs within the type of Kaka. In the future he’ll play for the England nationwide staff and within the Premier League.’
Dowman attended to a Soccer Escapes camp in Portugal aged 9 — a household vacation programme mixed with soccer teaching by former Premier League stars reminiscent of Mark Noble and Michael Dawson.
He then gave a uncommon interview with the corporate in August 2024, the place he talked about his brief stints coaching with the Arsenal first staff.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has taken a eager curiosity in Dowman and is mentoring the teen – having been a teenage prodigy himself at Actual Madrid
Dowman can not signal knowledgeable deal till he turns 17 in December subsequent 12 months – however Arsenal may seal a pre-agreement earlier than then to safe his future
Dowman tries to repeat Rice’s trick of juggling the ball together with his decrease again throughout open coaching
‘The primary time we have been simply defending and I felt like a transferring model,’ he mentioned. ‘I wasn’t actually involving myself that properly as a result of I used to be simply defending. However the second time it was assault v defence. I acquired myself extra concerned and I did higher than the primary time. It was actually pleasant. It was actually surreal for me to be sincere.’
On which gamers he felt starstruck round, he namechecked Rice and William Saliba.
He’s not starstruck now and the highlight is inevitable, however Arsenal have positioned their religion not simply in Dowman’s expertise, however in his temperament and theirs. Whether or not he stays at Arsenal for the long run – although the considered him leaving appears inconceivable – Dowman is being given each software and each safeguard to thrive.
The genie could also be out of the bottle. However the boy, and the ball, look like within the most secure fingers potential.
