Max Dowman gave Mikel Arteta another reason to consider him for more first-team opportunities after scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich Town.
The 16-year-old was given his first start of the season at Portman Road and responded with two impressive finishes, offering a reminder of the talent Arsenal have coming through their academy.
Dowman’s opening goal was particularly eye-catching. He carried the ball through the Ipswich defence before calmly finding the net, while his second showed a different side of his game as he composed himself inside the area before placing the ball into the corner.
Arteta was delighted with the teenager’s performance but immediately stressed that Arsenal must resist the temptation to accelerate his development too quickly.
“He is 16 years old and we have to be really cautious,” Arteta said. “We don’t want to stop him, we don’t want to put the brakes on him, we need to develop him and we are fully aware what he needs.”
The Arsenal manager also highlighted the qualities that make Dowman such an exciting prospect.
“Unbelievable, he’s unpredictable, he can go either way, so fluid, so nice to watch,” Arteta said.
Dowman’s brace also placed him alongside Wayne Rooney as only the second 16-year-old to score twice in a match for a Premier League club in any competition. Rooney achieved the feat for Everton against Wrexham in the League Cup in 2002.
Arsenal must find the right pathway for Dowman
The challenge for Arsenal now is finding the right balance between exposing Dowman to senior football and protecting his development.
He had already made 13 appearances last season, becoming the youngest player to appear in the Champions League and setting several age-related records for Arsenal and the Premier League.
His opportunities have been more limited at the start of the current campaign, with the teenager spending time on the bench before being handed the full 90 minutes against Ipswich.
That could change following his latest performance, although Arteta has made clear that Arsenal will consider the wider picture before increasing his workload.
“With the demands that we put in them, to be able to do that is extremely difficult and he’s coping better and better and better,” Arteta added.
Mikel Merino was also impressed by the youngster, describing him as an “unbelievable talent” while stressing the importance of continuing to learn.
For Arsenal, Dowman’s performance creates an intriguing situation. The teenager has shown he can make an impact when given the opportunity, but with the Premier League champions already enjoying a strong start to the season, Arteta must decide when and where those opportunities should come.
The two goals against Ipswich may have made that decision considerably more difficult — and considerably more exciting.
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