The FA’s youth workforce coaches are contemplating selling Max Dowman to England’s U19 squad after his spectacular Premier League debut for Arsenal in opposition to Leeds.
The 15-year-old has been capped 16 instances at U17 degree, scoring 5 worldwide targets, and was a key member of England’s U17 squad in the summertime, beginning every of their three European Championship video games.
Now – after successful a penalty in opposition to Leeds in Saturday’s 5-0 victory for Arsenal – there’s a chance he’ll soar one other age group, in recognition of his progress in senior soccer.
However for that to occur – as a result of Dowman remains to be a minor – it should want the settlement of each his household and Arsenal. His growth might be fastidiously managed – by membership and nation.
His team-mate Ethan Nwaneri – the one Arsenal participant to make his Premier League debut at a youthful age than Dowman – was promoted to England’s U21 facet in March, on the age of 17, after cautious consideration of his readiness.
Nwaneri went on to be a key participant for Lee Carsley’s workforce as they retained their Euros crown in June, that includes in all six matches.
The sensation round Dowman, Sky Sports activities Information has been instructed, is comparable – in that many within the FA really feel he’s now able to step as much as the U19s, however extra discussions might be held earlier than any remaining resolution is taken.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has no doubts about Dowman’s pedigree, and his urge for food for large video games, saying after Saturday’s match with Leeds: “There is a kid here that has zero hesitation and is so convinced that at 15 he can go and deliver, which I have never witnessed in my life.
“For us he brings pleasure, he brings emotion and one thing else that makes our jobs so nice.”
The teenager has been involved with England’s junior teams for several years, making his international debut for the U16s – and then the U17s – in 2024.
Dowman has been part of England’s youth groups for a number of years
Nonetheless, the FA and Arsenal are conscious that he nonetheless has to take his GCSEs subsequent spring and, due to his age, he can’t play Champions League soccer till January 1, 2026.
Dowman stood out in pre-season for Arsenal, coming off the bench on quite a few events and impressing Arteta with the affect he made.
That prompted Arteta to carry him on on the Emirates on Saturday – albeit together with his facet already 4-0 up. In doing so, at 15 years and 234 days previous, Dowman turned the second youngest participant to function for Arsenal.
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Theo Walcott and Jamie Redknapp analyse Dowman’s efficiency in opposition to Leeds in Arsenal’s 5-0 victory
Dowman immediately excited the house crowd with quite a lot of runs down the proper wing and received the penalty in stoppage time that Viktor Gyokeres transformed for 5-0.
Subsequent Up: Contained in the rise of Dowman
Dowman is Arsenal’s 15-year-old wonderkid
“Ball carrying has been his super strength all the way through,” former Arsenal academy coach Temisan Williams – now founding father of Coach Accelerator Masterclass Group – instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I got to coach Max for the whole season when he was an U11s player and right from the get-go I was like: ‘Okay, there’s something very special about this young man’.”
Dowman is now essentially the most talked-about teenager within the Premier League. He is ticked off his first-team after which aggressive debuts in a matter of weeks. All this sparks the query: How far can he go? And the way rapidly?
“Champions League, World Cup, Premier League,” says Williams. “He’s got all the capabilities; he’s got the mentality. Mikel Arteta wouldn’t bring him into the fold at that age if he didn’t.”
There will be little doubt anymore – Max Dowman is Subsequent Up.
Learn extra on Max Dowman’s growth within the Arsenal academy right here.
Why Arsenal’s academy is its greatest asset
The Emirates Stadium crackled with anticipation each time the ball arrived on the toes of Dowman. As in Arsenal’s pre-season video games, his team-mates made a concerted effort to place it there. It’s simple to grasp why. The 15-year-old is a particular expertise.
Leeds couldn’t comprise him. The drop of the shoulder to win Arsenal’s late penalty capped an exhilarating debut. On a day of theatre, of unveilings, accidents and first targets, it was Dowman, a schoolboy nonetheless 4 months shy of his sixteenth birthday, who stole the present.
Dowman is likely to be Arsenal’s most fun academy product but. He actually seems to be uniquely prepared for the step up at his age. However he’s simply the most recent participant off the membership’s manufacturing line in recent times.
Hale Finish continues to ship.
