“One Of The Best In The Country” – David Ornstein Hails Arsenal Wonderkid Max Dowman

By The Editor
on 28th September 2024

David Ornstein feels Arsenal have another superstar on the way…

With Arsenal fans still astonished by the virtuoso performance produced by Ethan Nwaneri on his first start for the senior team against Bolton in the League Cup, The Athletic’s David Ornstein believes the club have another talented player coming through the pipeline.

Max Dowman, a 14-year-old playmaker making waves in Jack Wilshere’s U18 side has clearly caught Ornstein’s attention days after making history in Europe.

Dowman became the youngest player to score in UEFA’s Youth League with his consolation effort against Atalanta in a 3-1 defeat. The fact that he’s a regular for the U18’s side months shy of his 15th birthday is unique.

Just like Nwaneri, Dowman is a left-footed playmaker who has a physical stature that belies his age. He also has the footballing intelligence that sees him make the right decision on the pitch.

“In this one, it really did seem to be Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly,” Ornstein told Sky Sports when asked about the current crop of Hale End stars.

“But tonight, and on the bench in Europe against Atalanta and even at Manchester City, we’ve started to see a few more emerging.

“There is an absolutely outstanding talent coming through at Arsenal, one of the best in the country in Max Dowman. And so we’ll be seeing a bit more of him in recent years.”

Dowman turns 15 in December and it will be interesting to see if his progression is subsequently accelerated in terms of how often he’s around the first-team.

Training alongside the senior side at that age isn’t unheard of and has been achieved by the likes of Nwaneri and Jack Wilshere.