Arsenal have their very own Lamine Yamal – he is a greater expertise than Bukayo Saka
Arsenal have a severe gem on their arms in Max Dowman.
The 16-year-old has made six first-team appearances this season, the most recent being the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Mansfield City within the FA Cup fifth spherical.
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Dowman, who performed 77 minutes in attacking midfield, might and maybe ought to have gotten on the scoresheet.
Dowman delights towards Mansfield
He pounced on a free move from Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts simply exterior the 18-yard field and drove in direction of objective earlier than firing off a shot, solely to be denied by the latter’s outstretched left boot.
Dowman pressured Roberts into one other excellent save early within the second half when he burst previous two Mansfield gamers on the outskirts of the centre circle and rolled the ball previous one other previous to letting a left-footed effort fly.
These have been simply two brilliant moments in a show that was mature past Dowman’s teenage years as he stood head and shoulders above his teammates.
Exceptional stats behind Dowman’s greatest displaying but
In accordance with FotMob, Dowman registered the very best anticipated objectives (xG) of all gamers within the match at 1.01, the second-highest anticipated assists (xA) with 0.39, probably the most pictures heading in the right direction (three), probably the most touches within the opposition field (13), was fouled probably the most (thrice), and received probably the most floor duels amongst Arsenal gamers (seven from 12).
Protected to say, the sky is the restrict for Dowman, who even received a penalty on his Premier League debut at age 15.
Other than exceptional means to slalom previous defenders with the ball at his toes, Gunners legend Perry Groves was fast to level out one other beneficial trait already on show from {the teenager}.
And, in a significant warning for Arsenal‘s rivals, it’s one that may make Dowman much more of a nightmare to defend going ahead.
Groves: Dowman ‘higher’ than Saka at identical age
“He is a generational expertise, with none shadow of a doubt,” Groves mentioned on the most recent episode of Inside Gooners.
“In case you take a look at the age teams, with (Bukayo) Saka coming by means of, (Ethan) Nwaneri coming by means of, (Myles) Lewis-Skelly coming by means of, he is a greater participant at 16 than even what Bukayo Saka was.
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“I keep in mind Steve Bould, I talked to him when he was answerable for the Underneath-18s about Bukayo Saka and he mentioned to me, ‘Make no mistake, I’ve obtained one on the minute, he’ll be a celebrity.’ He was speaking about Bukayo Saka.
“The factor with Max Dowman is, we have got a road footballer in Eberechi Eze. He is (Eze) learnt his soccer within the cages in south London.
“In case you take a look at Max Dowman, he’s a road footballer. What I imply by that’s, he does issues that you may’t coach, you’ll be able to’t educate. It’s all pure in his physique. He does not overthink stuff, he simply does it.
“I obtained a little bit of stick once I noticed him towards Manchester United’s Underneath-18s, he ran the present. He was 15, towards 18-year-olds. I mentioned he jogged my memory of his steadiness and the best way he strikes like Lionel Messi.
“However the factor that stands out with Max Dowman is, Lionel Messi is five-foot-eight. He is six-foot.
“So what is going on to occur is, he is nonetheless filling out, he is nowhere close to as robust as what he’ll be in his physique as he fills out.”
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Inside Gooners host Adrian Clarke went a step additional, stating Dowman is on the identical trajectory as a heavy Ballon d’Or favorite.
Dowman’s Yamal future?
“The pace of his dribbling is one thing I have never actually seen exterior of Messi,” Clarke mentioned.
“I believe he’ll be of Lamine Yamal‘s degree. I believe that is what we’re speaking about right here with Max Dowman. He’s ok.”
One other standout ingredient of Dowman’s sport Groves identified was {the teenager}’s fearlessness.
Some gamers at Dowman’s age would, maybe understandably, rein their sport in ought to they misplace a move or be despatched flying by a crunching sort out from a rival defender.
But Groves doesn’t see any of that in Dowman, who evidently has the help of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to make in-game errors and study on the job.
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“There is not any worry,” Groves mentioned.
“So when he goes to take gamers on or lets it run throughout his physique and he drops his shoulder, if he will get tackled, he does not suppose, ‘Effectively, subsequent time I higher lend it.’
“He goes, ‘Truly, no, I’ll do it once more.'”
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