3 days ago
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Top 10 revealed
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It didn't come as a shock to Arsenal fans when it was announced that 15-year-old Max Dowman was in the team's starting XI for their EFL Cup tie against Brighton. That tells you everything you need to know about the hype surrounding the Gunners' teenager. He had already made three first-team appearances off of the bench this season prior to that. But there was huge excitement around Dowman getting his first start. He is a player that gets fans off their seats and seems destined to have an incredible future. 'He's got school in the morning' echoed from some sections of the Emirates, whilst others were often just left speechless by the way he was beating much older opponents. Mesmerised by his ability to adapt to senior football at such an age.
He was the Gunners' best attacking player in the first-half, and produced some silky runs before being replaced by Bukayo Saka after 71 minutes in a game Arsenal eventually won 2-0. In making the starting line-up, Dowman not only became the youngest player to ever start a match for Arsenal. He not only became the youngest player to start a match for a Premier League club. The 15-year-old became the youngest player to start a game for any top-five league club this century, and by some distance. It was a huge show of faith to include Dowman in the starting XI. Before the game, manager Mikel Arteta said, "When you look at what he does in training you have to play him”. He doesn't turn 16 until New Years Eve, but what does this season and the long-term future hold for Dowman?
What type of player is Max Dowman?
Dowman’s awareness, confidence and ability to run with the ball are what really set him apart. He has the natural attribute of being able to manipulate his body and stop, start over and over again to torment defenders. When we add to this his strong ball-striking and finishing, it makes a frightening prospect. At times, it can look impossible for fellow defenders to stop him. However, he will now enter a crucial period in his development and his incredible early progress is no prerequisite that Dowman will be able to repeat this at the very top level. Nevertheless, at this stage, it would seem that only injuries or attitude will stop him making it to the top.
The statistics he managed for the Arsenal U18 team are frightening. As illustrated in the graphic above, he scored 20 goals and provided 10 assists in just 25 games. Now, when we consider that Dowman is A) not a striker and B) still 15-years-old until late December, these stats are truly mind-boggling. But where might he fit into Arteta's long-term plans? At youth level, Dowman has played primarily as an attacking midfielder or right-winger. This is where he has been used in all of his first-team minutes so far and seems his most comfortable position, but with Saka ahead of him, Dowman's versatility could be key to his opportunities. Dowman truly has the ability to be labelled a generational talent - let's compare his age to the other top-five league youngest starters.
Youngest starters for top-5 league clubs this century
At just 15 years and nine months old, Dowman's inclusion in the initial XI has him way out in front as the youngest starter for a top-five league side since 2000. In second place is Lille's talented midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who made his first start in 2023 aged 16 years. Just behind him by a matter of days is striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who started for Borussia Dortmund in 2020 aged 16 years. Fourth goes to the young superstar Lamine Yamal, who was included in Barcelona starting XI aged 16 years and one month in 2023. Fifth places goes to Stefano Okaka who made the initial line-up for Roma aged 16 years and one month all the way back in 2005.
Sixth on the list is another Arsenal youngster in goalkeeper Jack Porter who started the Gunners' EFL Cup tie against Bolton last season aged 16 years and two months. Pietro Pellegri is seventh having started for Genoa in 2017 aged 16 years and two months, and he is followed by the characterful French striker Neal Maupay in eighth, who was a starter for Nice aged 16 years and two months in 2012. Fabrice Olinga made the initial XI for Malaga in 2012 aged 16 years and three months and takes ninth, whilst French playmaker Rayan Cherki completes the top having started for Lyon in 2019 aged 16 years and four months.
