Mikel Arteta has showered praise on Max Dowman, highlighting the "special" qualities of the young player after he made history as Arsenal's youngest-ever starter. The 15-year-old attacking midfielder achieved this milestone in the Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion, a game Arsenal won 2-0 to secure their place in the fifth round.
Dowman's record-breaking start occurred on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, when he was just 15 years and 302 days old. This broke the previous record held by Jack Porter, who was 16 years and 72 days old when he debuted against Bolton Wanderers in the same competition last season. Dowman has already made three senior appearances for Arsenal this term.
Arteta made sweeping changes to the lineup from the weekend's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, giving Dowman his first senior start. The young player was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch. Goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealed the victory against Brighton.
Arteta acknowledged the unique talent Dowman possesses and his seamless integration into the first team. “A tiny smile, that's what you get with him,” Arteta said regarding Dowman's reaction to being named in the starting XI. "For him everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It's the way he plays and that's the secret, that he doesn't make a big fuss of it". He further added, "He just does what he does best, which is to play football. To play football with a lot of courage and determination and today again, he has shown some incredible skill, some capacity to run past players at that level in the Premier League".
Dowman, born on December 31, 2009, joined Arsenal's youth academy in 2015 after a period with Billericay Town's youth setup. He began playing with Arsenal's U18s in September 2023, at the age of 13. On September 19, 2024, he became the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Youth League history when he scored against Atalanta, aged 14 years, eight months, and 19 days.
Arteta is aware of the need to carefully manage Dowman's development, ensuring he is not overburdened. "If we looked at his passport every day we would never play him, simple as that,” said Arteta. “But when you look at what he does in training you have to play him - if not you are blind, or I'm blind". He also said, "It is finding a balance, an understanding, especially the load, the things that are changing in his life, and make sure he can cope with that. So far he has done that".
Dowman's rise has been meteoric, and he is already the second-youngest player to appear in the Premier League, behind only his teammate Ethan Nwaneri. Dowman made his Premier League debut on August 23, 2025, as a substitute against Leeds United.
Arsenal fans have been eager to see Dowman get more playing time, and Arteta has acknowledged their wishes. He stated, "When you look at Max Dowman in training, you have to play him - if not, you are blind, or I'm blind". He also expressed his confidence that Dowman is happy at Arsenal and sees his future with the club. "The feeling that I have is that, genuinely, he loves it here. He's a huge Arsenal supporter, and his family is also. Hopefully, for many years, he will be with us,” Arteta said.
