As Arsenal continue their quest for a first Premier League title since 2004, there were always going to be plenty of heroes along the way, but few expected one to be born in 2009. On Saturday evening, as Mikel Arteta's team appeared set to be held to an agonising scoreless draw by Everton, he threw on Max Dowman. Well, the 16-year-old would completely change the game, breaking all sorts of records in the process.
Statistics Max Dowman
Minutes played 16
Goals 1
Key passes 2
Accurate passes 12
Passing accuracy % 92%
Carries 12
Successful dribbles 2
Touches 28
Despite only being introduced as a substitute with around 15 minutes to go, he attempted the joint-most dribbles of any Arsenal player, while only Declan Rice created more chances and Gabriel was the only player fouled more frequently.
As the game hit the 90-minute mark, Dowman's searching cross picked out Piero Hincapié at the back post, who put the ball on a plate for Viktor Gyökeres to open the scoring. Then, in injury time, with Jordan Pickford having charged forward for a Toffees corner, Dowman broke away and rolled the ball into an empty net, creating an Emirates moment no one will ever forget. In doing so, he became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Top 11 youngest goalscorers in Premier League history
Player Fixture Date Age
Max Dowman Arsenal 2-0 Everton 14 March 2026 16 years & 73 days
James Vaughan Everton 4-0 Crystal Palace 10 April 2005 16 years & 270 days
James Milner Sunderland 1-2 Leeds 26 December 2002 16 years & 356 days
Wayne Rooney Everton 2-1 Arsenal 19 October 2002 16 years & 360 days
Rio Ngumoha Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool 25 August 2025 16 years & 361 days
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn 25 August 2004 17 years & 113 days
Michael Owen Wimbledon 2-1 Liverpool 6 May 1997 17 years & 143 days
Andy Turner Tottenham 2-1 Everton 4 September 1992 17 years & 166 days
Federico Macheda Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa 5 April 2009 17 years & 226 days
Lewis Miley Newcastle 3-0 Fulham 16 December 2023 17 years & 229 days
Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest 23 November 2024 17 years & 247 days
Dowman smashed James Vaughan's long-standing record by almost 200 days, having only celebrated his 16th birthday as recently as New Year's Eve. Overall, he is just the fifth 16 year old to net in the Premier League, after Vaughan, Wayne Rooney, James Milner and Rio Ngumoha, who added his name to this list by bagging Liverpool's injury time winner at St James' in August.
Of the top 11, there is further Arsenal representation from Cesc Fàbregas and the currently out on loan Ethan Nwaneri, who also opened their Premier League accounts as children. Overall, only 11 men have scored for Arsenal as, well, boys, with Dowman the youngest to do so of the lot.
Arsenal's youngest-ever goalscorers
Players Fixture Competition Date Age
Max Dowman Arsenal 2-0 Everton Premier League 14 Mar 2026 16 years & 73 days
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal 5-1 Wolves EFL Cup 2 Dec 2003 16 years & 212 days
Jack Wilshere Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United EFL Cup 23 Sep 2008 16 years & 266 days
Stewart Robson Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town First Division 13 Mar 1982 17 years & 127 days
Arturo Lupoli Arsenal 3-1 Everton EFL Cup 3 Nov 2004 17 years & 138 days
Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal 5-1 Bolton EFL Cup 25 Sep 2024 17 years & 188 days
Thomas Meade Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle Second Division 12 Jan 1895 17 years & 243 days
George Armstrong Arsenal 2-3 Everton First Division 1 May 1962 17 years & 263 days
Jon Sammels Blackpool 3-2 Arsenal First Division 27 Apr 1963 17 years & 278 days
Cliff Bastin Arsenal 2-3 Sheffield Wed First Division 4 Jan 1930 17 years & 296 days
Aaron Ramsey Fenerbahçe 2-5 Arsenal Champions League 21 Oct 2008 17 years & 300 days
So, having become Arsenal's youngest-ever scorer at the weekend, what records could Dowman still break? Well, the youngest Gunner to net in an away match is Jon Sammels, on target against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in 1963, and Dowman has almost two years to break that record.
Meantime, Aaron Ramsey is the club's youngest scorer in UEFA competition, on target during a 5-2 Champions League victory in İstanbul over Fenerbahçe. This goal at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium came 65 days before Ramsey's 18th birthday, meaning again Dowman will surely beat that too.
Well, perhaps he will do so as soon as Tuesday night. Having drawn 1-1 in Germany, Arteta's team take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, needing a victory to reach the quarter-finals. Perhaps, if they once again find die Werkself tough opposition, Dowman could be the hero again.