Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he had gut feeling teenager Max Dowman would make EPL impact

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Max Dowman becoming the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer as a magical moment, after the Gunners struck late to beat Everton 2-0 on March 14.

The Spaniard had a gut feeling that the 16-year-old would have an impact against Everton, but not even he could have envisaged how big it would be.

Arsenal were labouring and in danger of dropping crucial points when Dowman, introduced as a substitute in the 74th minute, provided the spark his side had been missing.

It was his cross that led to the opener for Viktor Gyokeres in the 89th minute.

Then, deep in stoppage time, he raced half the length of the pitch to become the youngest scorer in the club’s rich history, surpassing Cesc Fabregas’ mark of 16 years and 212 days when the Spaniard scored his first goal for Arsenal.

If the dust settles on the season with Arsenal as Premier League champions for the first time since 2004, fans might well look back at Dowman’s history-making night as the pivotal moment when they really believed it would happen.

“Probably in my head I had a gut feeling. In the last few days in training and I had a gut feeling that it was a moment for him,” Arteta said of the player who already set records this season as Arsenal’s youngest starter and the Champions League’s youngest player, both when still 15.

“He doesn’t seem to be fazed by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent. He just plays so naturally.

“He makes decisions to make things happen and what he delivered was incredible.”

Arteta said the maturity and poise Man of the Match Dowman showed during his spectacular cameo were “not normal”.

“I said these are the moments in the season when something special has to happen, and he knows he has the ability. I have to give him the opportunity, and he will deliver,” said the manager.
REUTERS, AFP