Max Dowman became the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer on the weekend, but some of the commentary that's followed has been ludicrous - and Arsenal need to tread carefully
Max Dowman celebrates
Arsenal need to manage Max Dowman carefully(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Thomas will name his latest England squad this week. And Max Dowman shouldn't be in it.
The teenager shouldn't even be in Tuchel's thinking, let alone named in a squad. Dowman has the potential to be a precocious talent. And when it comes to the teenage prodigy, certain individuals need to calm down and take a breath.
On the back of scoring one goal for Arsenal, Dowman has earned comparisons with Lionel Messi, Kaka and Lamine Yamal. The absurdity of a teenager being compared to a teenager demonstrates how football is now swept along on a Tsunami of excited and controversial opinions.
They come at us from all angles, 24/7. Dowman is 16. He isn't old enough to vote, drive or buy a pint in a pub, but is old enough to be compared to the greatest footballer of all time. Seriously?
Dowman hasn't officially turned professional yet. And is so young he needs an accompanying adult with him in a dressing room. In other words, he's still a child.
Arsenal now have a duty of care to such a young player, as does football in general. To let him grow, mature, learn and develop at a natural pace. Instead of demanding he be called into the England squad and taken to the World Cup.
How about allowing him to sit his GCSE's this summer instead? Arsenal need to treasure Dowman, not prostitute him.
Posting him on the club's official X account, which boasts over 22 million followers, is exposing him to a platform no-one his age ever should be.
Max Dowman celebrates scoring Arsenal's late second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
Max Dowman became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer on Saturday. (Image: BEN STANSALL, AFP via Getty Images)
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There will come a time when Dowman will be the genie that escapes the bottle. He will be rich and famous like all the rest. But speeding up this process is unnecessary.
Back in 2006 a certain Theo Walcott's life changed forever when he was called into the England squad. Thanks to Sven-Goran Eriksson, he was 17 and heading to a World Cup.
He didn't kick a ball in anger at the tournament, went on to win less than 50 caps and won just two domestic trophies throughout his club career. And some people still want Dowman to be the best Walcott.
And those now championing him for the biggest stage of all need to put their foot on the ball - and give their heads a serious wobble at the same time. Because time - and lots of it - is what Dowman has on his side.
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