Max Dowman: Arsenal’s 16-year-old wonderkid ...

It was all heading a technique for Arsenal. Missing concepts, missing depth – and historical past was repeating itself.

Three years in the past on this very day, Arsenal dropped factors to a David Moyes crew, that 2-2 draw at West Ham that proved essential within the Premier League title race. Final season, they drew this fixture 0-0, and issues have been heading in that route once more.

However as an alternative of historical past repeating itself, the historical past books have been written. Enter Max Dowman, whose cameo as a 16-year-old received the sport for Arsenal. You by no means know, it could simply win Arsenal the title.

Dowman will steal the headlines, the video clicks, the social media furore along with his silky second that despatched Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor flying and Everton gamers scrambling earlier than tapping into an empty web.

However his deep cross compelled the chaos – and the aim – that broke open that sport late on, scored by Viktor Gyokeres. It was audacious for somebody of his age. “It isn’t solely the aim that he scored. I feel he modified the sport,” stated Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports activities.

“Each time he bought the ball, he made issues occur. It regarded like we have been extra of a risk. To do this at that age, on this context, with this strain, it’s simply not regular.”

Arsenal have been, as soon as once more, going through an Emirates Stadium crowd stuffed with nervousness and impatience. Followers have been pleading for the ball to go ahead. So Arteta acted, he introduced on his wildcard – figuring out that he had that energy to hold the ball in direction of the Everton aim.

“I had a intestine feeling that it was a second for him,” stated Arteta. “Most likely as a result of he does not appear to be fazed by the event or the second or the context or the opponent.

“He simply performs so naturally. He makes selections to make issues occur, and what he delivered was unbelievable.

“Each time he bought concerned within the motion, the pace of the sport was completely different that is for certain. I feel he created a special vitality within the stadium.”

And so he did. No Arsenal participant managed extra dribbles than the 16-year-old, all of them ahead. Solely Declan Rice created extra possibilities than Dowman. Solely Gabriel received extra fouls.

All that chaos – and he solely entered the pitch on 74 minutes. “Max Dowman did extra in these 16 minutes plus added time than Bukayo Saka did on the appropriate,” added Redknapp.

What’s staggering isn’t just how he was capable of manipulate the sport, however how clearly his team-mates belief a participant so younger. He had 28 touches of the ball, two greater than Kai Havertz managed in an hour.

“He takes the appropriate selections more often than not as nicely,” Gyokeres advised Sky Sports activities. “You possibly can see with the aim, he undoubtedly took the appropriate one. An incredible participant and an excellent aim for him.”

Those that have adopted Dowman’s profession, albeit one in its infancy, usually are not shocked by. His coaches at youth level say dribbling is his “superpower”, Redknapp admitted he observed {the teenager}’s skills from the age of seven – whereas it is value remembering this isn’t the primary standout Dowman show of the season.

He had an excellent cameo in opposition to Leeds on his Premier League debut again in August, grew to become the youngest-ever Champions League participant in November and was Arsenal’s greatest participant of their FA Cup win at Mansfield.

However each teenage sensation has had their ‘Star is Born’ second: a 16-year-old Wayne Rooney curled residence that very good long-range aim for Moyes’ Everton in opposition to Arsenal, of all groups; Marcus Rashford had his doubles in opposition to FC Midtjylland and Arsenal. Theo Walcott had that long-range run and help at Anfield within the Champions League.

Dowman’s second – which now has the entire nation watching – has come youthful than any of these gamers. However the query on everybody’s lips is: what’s subsequent?

The Arsenal attacker has proven he can cope with the high-level strain of a Premier League fixture, he is already generated one of many moments of the season. Will that reach to a begin quickly?

“Calm!” stated Arteta. “Let’s come right down to earth in the present day and benefit from the second as a result of it was intense and it was value it. And we’ll see tomorrow.”

It’s fairly clear that Dowman is without doubt one of the stars of tomorrow, making an impression in the present day.