Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has shown plenty of faith in the club's academy stars in recent years and he believes Max Dowman has the crucial qualities to be a success
10:30, 16 Aug 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks to Max Dowman
Mikel Arteta has outlined what makes Max Dowman so special(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has offered fresh insight into the "unusual" qualities that set Max Dowman apart.
The Arsenal head coach has built a reputation for spotting ability early and trusting emerging talent over the last few years. That same belief in academy products has paid dividends with full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, who cemented a starting spot in the Gunners' senior side last season.
Similarly, forward Ethan Nwaneri has forced his way into first-team contention. And if pre-season was anything to go by, 15-year-old prodigy Dowman looks likely to be the next Hale End graduate to shine under Arteta.
The Spaniard was recently announced as the latest global ambassador for American sportswear company Under Armour. His position will involve sharing his perspective on football in areas such as brand growth, player scouting, leadership, and helping to nurture future stars through the company's Next Programme.
Arteta has benefitted enormously from a constant stream of academy talent under the stewardship of Arsenal's youth director and former team-mate at the Emirates Stadium, Per Mertesacker. Despite his own coaching strengths, Arteta openly acknowledged during the Under Armour unveiling just how gifted the young trio truly are.
He highlighted both their attitude and exceptional physical maturity - two attributes that often take years for academy players to acquire, with many prospects needing loan spells in lower leagues before they can adapt to senior football.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are the latest Hale End graduates to establish themselves as first-team regulars at Arsenal(Image: Getty)
"There are two very important ones (qualities) at this level," Arteta began. "One is attitude; a special attitude and feeling confident about the opportunity that you're going to be given.
"And then, the second is the physical part because without the physical part in this game, you have no chance and we're talking about kids who haven't had any loan periods.
"They haven't been to the Championship or been to Holland, they've just been playing under 16s and under 18s and go straight to playing in the Premier League and Champions League and that's a massive gap in every sense.
Arsenal maanger Mikel Arteta speaks to Max Dowman
Arteta has been impressed by Dowman's performances in pre-season(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"But if you don't have that personality, that emotional education and emotional control, and the physical part and if you can't cope with that, you have no chance. Those two (Dowman and Lewis-Skelly), and Ethan as well, have had the ability to overcome that massive gap very quickly, which is very unusual."
Nwaneri made headlines in 2022 when he became the Premier League's youngest-ever player at 15. Since then, the inventive playmaker has moved between Arsenal's Under-18 side and the senior squad.
Although he played only 1,378 minutes in total last season, he still finished among the club's top scorers - netting nine times in all competitions, including twice in the Champions League and one against Manchester City in the league.
Mikel Arteta and Max Dowman
Dowman could be set for a run in the first team squad this season(Image: Getty Images)
His long-time team-mate Lewis-Skelly established himself as a starter from December onwards, locking down the left-back role. He impressed in standout victories over Tottenham and City and later provided an assist against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
Dowman, still juggling school exams, first joined senior training sessions at the age of 14. Even though Arteta often shields young players from early exposure, he felt compelled to take Dowman on the winter camp to Dubai after seeing his ability first-hand.
This summer, Dowman travelled to Spain for pre-season and later captured widespread attention on the club's Asia tour, where he delivered some of the standout performances. Arsenal insiders are already well aware of his remarkable ability, having tracked his progress closely.
Max Dowman
Dowman is the talk of the town in Arsenal circles(Image: Getty Images)
Despite his youth, the left-footed attacking midfielder has been fast-tracked into senior football. The numbers underline his promise: he became the youngest ever player to represent Arsenal's Under-18s at just 13, and then repeated the feat with the Under-21s a year later.
In September last year, he also became the youngest scorer in UEFA Youth League history. On the international stage, he has already made an impact for England, finding the net for the Under-17s when he was only 14.
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At the Under-17 European Championship earlier this summer, Dowman was the youngest participant but still started all three games for England, scoring a superb solo strike against the Czech Republic.
Many Arsenal supporters got their first real look at him in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Manchester United in February. Playing at the Emirates for the Under-18s, he was comfortably the best player on the pitch.
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