Evening Standard
·2 April 2024
Arsenal hoping to 'fast-track' 14-year-old sensation Max Dowman, says Jack Wilshere
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Evening Standard
·2 April 2024
Arsenal are looking to “fast-track” 14-year-old academy star Max Dowman following his outstanding performances for their Under-18s team, says Jack Wilshere.
Dowman provided four assists in Arsenal U18s’ 5-2 victory over Fulham on Saturday. Team-mate Chido Obi, two years his senior, scored four times in the win.
The left-footed midfielder made his debut for the U18s last September at just 13. He has since played for England U16s and impressed at the Football Federations Cup.
Wilshere, who started his own career in Arsenal’s academy, has been in charge of the Gunners’ U18s since July 2022. He hinted at a potential future first-team promotion for Dowman after Saturday’s triumph against Fulham.
Bright future: Max Dowman is already making a massive impact in the Arsenal youth ranks
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” he said.
"He can be more consistent but he’s only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet. We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.”
The former England midfielder heaped praise on his team’s performance against Fulham.
"I really enjoyed the performance," Wilshere added. "We had a blend of players spanning from under-14s to under-18s. It's always intriguing to see how they play together, how they fight together, and today, I felt we witnessed that in abundance."
Another Arsenal youngster, Ethan Nwaneri, already holds the record for the youngest-ever Premier League player. Nwaneri, 17, made his debut at 15 years and 181 days, becoming the first person aged under 16 ever to play in the Premier League, as Arsenal beat Brentford in September 2022.