Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Final - Arsenal Training - Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary - May 29, 2026 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka with Max Dowman during training REUTERS/Phil Noble
Bukayo Saka has high hopes for Max Dowman (Picture: REUTERS)
Bukayo Saka has hailed the ‘insane’ talent of Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman, sending a message to the teenager over his future in the game.
The 16-year-old is already catching the eye with the Gunners, as manager Mikel Arteta eases him into first team action.
Dowman became the second-youngest player in Premier League history in August 2025 when he came off the bench for Arsenal at 15 years and 235 days.
In November of the same year he became the youngest player in the history of the Champions League, for any team.
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The records continued to be broken as he became the Premier League’s and Arsenal’s youngest ever goal-scorer when he netted against Everton in March at 16 years and 73 days old.
Dowman has still only made 15 senior appearances and just three so far this season, although one was notable as he scored twice in a Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town.
A huge amount is expected of the youngster and Saka is not playing down expectations, but has reminded Dowman that where he gets to in the game is entirely down to what he puts into it.
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Max Dowman and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on August 11, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Max Dowman and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on August 11, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
‘His talent is insane,’ Saka told the BBC. ‘It’s up to him how far he’s going to go in football. That’s what I would say. But, yes, his talent, it’s crazy.’
Dowman is on international duty this week with England Under-19s, but a step up to Under-21 level seems inevitable in the near future.
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Under-21s manager Lee Carsley says that senior manager Thomas Tuchel already has him on his radar, but looks forward to managing before he makes that step.
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‘It’s important players develop at their own pace. Max is an outstanding talent, the timing and the balance of when he comes to the Under-21s is inevitable,’ said Carsley.
Dowman was fantastic as Arsenal beat Ipswich earlier this month (Picture: Getty Images)
‘He’s going to the U21s because of his talent, but we have to make sure we do that at the right time. We have to be patient and make sure that ultimately we want them to play for the senior team for a prolonged period.’
He added: ‘Thomas and I speak regularly about squad selection and obviously Max is always in the conversation because of his talent.
‘It’s not one size fits all. Some players are just ready for it, physically, mentally, ready to compete and they’re at the stage where they’re just above that age group, and we have to make sure that we get the time we want with that.’