Mikel Arteta Praises 15-Year-Old Max Dowman After Impressive Display In Arsenal Win

At just 15 years old, Max Dowman is already turning heads at the Emirates — and not just because of his age.

The young midfielder was a standout performer as Arsenal cruised into the next round of the Carabao Cup with goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealing the victory. But it was Dowman’s calm presence and technical brilliance that caught everyone’s attention, including manager Mikel Arteta.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Arteta could not hide his admiration for the teenage sensation:

“For him, everything is natural, for him everything is okay, it’s the way he plays,” Arteta said.
“I think that is the secret — he doesn’t make a big fuss of it.”

It’s rare to see such composure in a player so young, but Dowman has shown maturity beyond his years. Arteta emphasized how remarkable it is to maintain that level of focus and courage in a top-flight game.

Max Dowman vs. Brighton:

Most dribbles completed (5)
Most fouls won (4)
Most duels won (9)

Showing his quality against Premier League opposition at just 15 years old pic.twitter.com/GsdSWBEx4p

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 29, 2025

“He just does what he does best — to play football, to play with a lot of courage and determination,” the Arsenal boss added.
“Today again he’s shown some incredible skill, some capacity to run past players at that level in the Premier League at 15. It’s something definitely special.”

Arsenal fans will be excited about what the future holds for the youngster, who seems destined for greatness if he continues on this trajectory.

Next up for Arteta’s men is a Premier League clash against Burnley, as they look to maintain their strong form and continue integrating young talents like Dowman into the senior setup.

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