Former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson has backed Max Dowman to become an outstanding player after revealing the remarkable assessment he received from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Speaking on BBC Sport, Jenkinson discussed the 16-year-old’s enormous potential and explained why he believes the youngster could develop into one of Arsenal’s leading players.
Dowman has attracted considerable attention following his emergence in Arsenal’s first team, although his development has also brought increased scrutiny.
Jenkinson believes the attacking midfielder possesses exceptional ability and expects him to fulfil his considerable promise.
“What I’ve seen of Max Dowman and from what people have told me, his future will work itself out in a very good way,” Jenkinson said. “He’s going to be unbelievable.”
The former England international then recalled a conversation with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had previously trained alongside Dowman at Arsenal.
Jenkinson explained that he had travelled to watch his former teammate play for Celtic and used the opportunity to ask about the youngster.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s response left him particularly impressed, given the calibre of players the midfielder has encountered throughout his career.
“He didn’t even flinch. He just went, ‘He’s the best I’ve ever seen by a mile,'” Jenkinson revealed.
Jenkinson admitted that the certainty of the response surprised him, especially considering Oxlade-Chamberlain’s experience at Arsenal, Liverpool and with England.
“The speed of his response and how confident he was in delivering it, I was quite taken aback,” he added.
The former Arsenal defender believes Dowman’s performances already demonstrate his remarkable technical qualities, although he stressed that the youngster still needs time to develop.
His comments come after Dowman endured a difficult evening during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup elimination against Fleetwood Town.
The teenager received a red card during the fourth-round encounter, with Arsenal subsequently failing in their appeal against his three-match suspension.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has publicly defended Dowman, emphasising the importance of supporting young players while helping them learn from mistakes.
Jenkinson shares that view and believes Arteta will be particularly conscious of protecting the youngster from excessive expectations.
“Naturally, Mikel Arteta is going to want to protect a player like that,” he said. “He’s still developing mentally and physically. He’s a young boy at the end of the day.”
Dowman’s suspension has temporarily interrupted his involvement with the senior squad, but his long-term prospects remain highly encouraging.
For Jenkinson, the combination of Dowman’s performances and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s emphatic endorsement provides compelling evidence of his exceptional potential.
The challenge for Arsenal will be ensuring that the teenager continues developing without allowing the attention surrounding him to become an unnecessary burden.