Max Dowman is on the Gunners’ pathway to successShare15-year-old Max Dowman made his mark on Newcastle in a recent pre-season friendly and could be next off the Hale End conveyer belt at Arsenal.By Graham RuthvenViktor Gyökeres wasn’t even playing, but the Swedish striker’s unveiling as an Arsenal player was meant to be the headline act of the Gunners’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle United. This was the moment a summer-long saga came to an end with Gyökeres signed for £64m to be the number nine so many believe Mikel Arteta’s team has lacked.Ultimately, though, Sunday’s match at the Singapore National Stadium might be remembered for the emergence of a 15-year-old wonderkid over the presentation of Gyökeres. Indeed, Max Dowman stole the show, putting in a performance off the bench that had many, including Arteta, gushing after full time.“Yeah, it is special,” said the Arsenal manager when asked about Dowman’s obvious natural talent. “‘Obviously what he’s done today against this team in the time that he had on the pitch is something certainly not common to witness for a 15-year-old. We are extremely happy to have him.”Dowman lit up the game off the bench, winning the penalty from which Martin Ødegaard scored the winner with a solo dribble and drive into the Newcastle box. The teenager was a constant thorn in the side of the Magpies and was electric in pushing Arsenal towards goal. It was an extremely memorable display.This summer has already been transformative for Arsenal’s attack. They finally completed a deal to land Gyökeres from Sporting over the weekend, giving Arteta a natural attacking focal point possibly for the first time in his tenure at the club. The hopes is that Gyökeres will carry some of his scintillating goalscoring form from last season (54 goals in 52 games) into the upcoming campaign.Gyökeres’ goal-heavy final season in PortugalNoni Madueke has arrived from Chelsea primarily to give Arsenal another option on the right wing where Bukayo Saka has been run into the ground over the last three seasons. When Saka has been injured, the Gunners have suffered and so Madueke will help mitigate the burden on the 23-year-old who is Arsenal’s creative heartbeat.It’s possible last season’s Premier League runners-up could also move for a left winger. Nico Williams had been linked with a move to North London before signing a new 10-year contract extension with Athletic Club while Rodrygo is reportedly on Arsenal’s radar amid speculation Real Madrid would entertain offers for the Brazilian.Arteta’s comments after the pre-season win over Newcastle suggest Dowman will get his opportunity in the first team next season, giving Arsenal another option in the final third. It would be unrealistic to expect the 15-year-old to play anything more than 1,000 minutes, but he could still be afforded the chance to make an impact off the bench and in cup games.For someone still so young, Dowman has the physical frame of a much older player. He can hold his own in the senior game. He has the natural intensity to press from the front and acts quickly with the ball whenever he has it in the attacking third. As a dribbler, a creator and a finisher who can operate on the right side or as a number 10, Dowman has the skill set to be a star.The emergence of Dowman is another sign that Arsenal’s academy is becoming increasingly prolific. The North London club has always done a good job of bringing through young players (see Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere, Tony Adams etc.), but Arteta has done his part to establish a consistent pathway into the first team.That pathway started with Saka making himself one of the most important first team figures at the Emirates Stadium. It continued with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri breaking through last season. Dowman is seemingly next off the conveyer belt rolling out of Hale End. He might be the most exciting prospect since Saka.Could Arsenal go one better this season?To become Premier League winners for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal needed to improve their first team this summer. They look to have done that primarily with the addition of Martin Zubimendi who has been signed to be the Gunners’ Rodri-type figure at the base of the midfield. Gyökeres could also be Arsenal’s new starting centre forward, although Kai Havertz will take some dislodging from the position. Havertz might not be the most instinctive of finishers, but his all-round game in and around the penalty box helps Arsenal become a better attacking outfit as a whole. Arteta knows what the German offers.In Dowman, though, Arsenal have a youngster who could develop into someone good enough to improve the first team. Someone good enough to make them Premier League champions if they haven’t already scaled that mountain. If Dowman is this good at the age of just 15, imagine how much better he could become very quickly.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow all Arsenal games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.Max Dowman is on the Gunners’ pathway to success15-year-old Max Dowman made his mark on Newcastle in a recent pre-season friendly and could be next off the Hale End conveyer belt at Arsenal.By Graham RuthvenViktor Gyökeres wasn’t even playing, but the Swedish striker’s unveiling as an Arsenal player was meant to be the headline act of the Gunners’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle United. This was the moment a summer-long saga came to an end with Gyökeres signed for £64m to be the number nine so many believe Mikel Arteta’s team has lacked.Ultimately, though, Sunday’s match at the Singapore National Stadium might be remembered for the emergence of a 15-year-old wonderkid over the presentation of Gyökeres. Indeed, Max Dowman stole the show, putting in a performance off the bench that had many, including Arteta, gushing after full time.“Yeah, it is special,” said the Arsenal manager when asked about Dowman’s obvious natural talent. “‘Obviously what he’s done today against this team in the time that he had on the pitch is something certainly not common to witness for a 15-year-old. We are extremely happy to have him.”Dowman lit up the game off the bench, winning the penalty from which Martin Ødegaard scored the winner with a solo dribble and drive into the Newcastle box. The teenager was a constant thorn in the side of the Magpies and was electric in pushing Arsenal towards goal. It was an extremely memorable display.This summer has already been transformative for Arsenal’s attack. They finally completed a deal to land Gyökeres from Sporting over the weekend, giving Arteta a natural attacking focal point possibly for the first time in his tenure at the club. The hopes is that Gyökeres will carry some of his scintillating goalscoring form from last season (54 goals in 52 games) into the upcoming campaign.Gyökeres’ goal-heavy final season in PortugalNoni Madueke has arrived from Chelsea primarily to give Arsenal another option on the right wing where Bukayo Saka has been run into the ground over the last three seasons. When Saka has been injured, the Gunners have suffered and so Madueke will help mitigate the burden on the 23-year-old who is Arsenal’s creative heartbeat.It’s possible last season’s Premier League runners-up could also move for a left winger. Nico Williams had been linked with a move to North London before signing a new 10-year contract extension with Athletic Club while Rodrygo is reportedly on Arsenal’s radar amid speculation Real Madrid would entertain offers for the Brazilian.Arteta’s comments after the pre-season win over Newcastle suggest Dowman will get his opportunity in the first team next season, giving Arsenal another option in the final third. It would be unrealistic to expect the 15-year-old to play anything more than 1,000 minutes, but he could still be afforded the chance to make an impact off the bench and in cup games.For someone still so young, Dowman has the physical frame of a much older player. He can hold his own in the senior game. He has the natural intensity to press from the front and acts quickly with the ball whenever he has it in the attacking third. As a dribbler, a creator and a finisher who can operate on the right side or as a number 10, Dowman has the skill set to be a star.The emergence of Dowman is another sign that Arsenal’s academy is becoming increasingly prolific. The North London club has always done a good job of bringing through young players (see Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere, Tony Adams etc.), but Arteta has done his part to establish a consistent pathway into the first team.That pathway started with Saka making himself one of the most important first team figures at the Emirates Stadium. It continued with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri breaking through last season. Dowman is seemingly next off the conveyer belt rolling out of Hale End. He might be the most exciting prospect since Saka.Could Arsenal go one better this season?To become Premier League winners for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal needed to improve their first team this summer. They look to have done that primarily with the addition of Martin Zubimendi who has been signed to be the Gunners’ Rodri-type figure at the base of the midfield. Gyökeres could also be Arsenal’s new starting centre forward, although Kai Havertz will take some dislodging from the position. Havertz might not be the most instinctive of finishers, but his all-round game in and around the penalty box helps Arsenal become a better attacking outfit as a whole. Arteta knows what the German offers.In Dowman, though, Arsenal have a youngster who could develop into someone good enough to improve the first team. Someone good enough to make them Premier League champions if they haven’t already scaled that mountain. If Dowman is this good at the age of just 15, imagine how much better he could become very quickly.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow all Arsenal games on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.