Arsenal legend Martin Keown says the Gunners have a very 'special' talent to watch out for and tips the youngster to break multiple records.
Arsenal brace for Carabao Cup final against Man City
Sunday at Wembley, the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal against Man City under the arch.
For Mikel Arteta's side, it is their first major final since lifting the FA Cup back in August 2020, and the chance to end a six-year wait for silverware at the very moment they are also chasing down a Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta with the FA Cup trophy
The timing could not be more significant — or more demanding.
Arsenal's route to this point has been built on character as much as quality. They squeezed past Crystal Palace on penalties at the quarter-final stage, then overcame Chelsea across two compelling semi-final legs — Kai Havertz's 96th-minute winner in the return sealing the tie and the place at Wembley.
Standing in their way is a City side looking for their first Carabao Cup win since 2021, having dispatched Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate.
Pep Guardiola — who can take his place in the dugout on Sunday, his touchline ban not extending to this competition — will be desperate to halt an Arsenal momentum that has been building all season.
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Eddie Howe's squad is attracting attention.
There are question marks around Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, who both missed the recent Champions League second leg victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
But the mood around the club is electric, not least because of a moment in recent weeks that has captured the imagination of everyone associated with the Gunners.
When 16-year-old Max Dowman came off the bench against Everton and became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, it sent shockwaves around the game.
The teenager did not just score — he played with a composure and decision-making that left seasoned observers doing a double take.
Martin Keown tips Max Dowman to break records at Arsenal
One of those observers was Keown, who spoke to TNT Sports and was unequivocal in his admiration.
Arsenal-Dowman-Arteta
He says that while the north Londoners have bred a host of incredible prodigies over the years, Dowman could be something unique.
"He's a special talent.
"He's been training with the first team now for almost a couple of years. You almost have to check his birth certificate to see if it's true and how good he is."
For Keown, the Toffees goal itself told the full story of what type of player Dowman is.
"That goal he scored against Everton — the ball for the first one was a teasing cross and a quality ball, but everything he did in that game was first class, trying to affect the match.
"I would have cleared that ball and thought time's up, but he was thinking differently to everyone else. He's got that joyous run to the goal to tap it in. Already he's showing massive maturity, no nerves."
The former Arsenal defender drew on his own experience to frame exactly how remarkable this is.
"I remember coming through the Arsenal youth team with the likes of David Rocastle, Michael Thomas, Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Niall Quinn — six full internationals.
"There's good players around. Skelly's come in, Saka's come in, Nwaneri's gone on loan. When he went on loan, you had some idea of how good Max Dowman was.
"Goodness me, that is a fantastic achievement for such a young man but he's still got such a long way to go. The youngest goalscorer in the Premier League.
"I think in the years to come we may see him at the top of lots of these records — let's hope he does."
There have been suggestions that Odegaard could be looking over his shoulder after Dowman's emergence, and it is hard to argue with the English teen breathing down his neck.