With Max Dowman making his entrance into the first-team at Arsenal, many have struggled to pinpoint players he is similar to.
The youngster has risen through the academy ranks, and at just 15 years old, he is earning the trust of Mikel Arteta.
Dowman’s full debut against Brighton was another example of this, as the manager gave him the opportunity to impress.
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The Arsenal starlet did just that, drawing some big comparisons from the opposition manager, Fabian Hurzeler.
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion - Carabao Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Max Dowman compared to Bukayo Saka by Fabian Hurzeler after Arsenal vs Brighton
Arsenal fans have had just brief glimpses of Max Dowman so far, with a few cameo appearances from the bench.
However, with his introduction to the team with a full debut in the Carabao Cup, there was a better idea of just how good he can be.
The 15-year-old played on the right flank, turning the Brighton defenders inside and out with his quality on the ball.
While it didn’t end with a goal or an assist, the display did draw some lofty comparisons from Fabian Hurzeler.
He simply said: “I think he already played some minutes in the Premier League, so he’s a good player.
“We all try to prepare our team the best we can do. It’s left for the players, [Dowman is] similar to Saka, so the profiles are not that different, and therefore we try to prepare our players in the week and as a group the best way we can, but for sure you won’t always know who’s playing.”
It’s high praise to be compared to another academy star who has risen to the top and shown such quality for Arsenal.
One statistic on the night certainly shows just how similar Bukayo Saka and Dowman are, in a trend that seems to be continuing.
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Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Max Dowman’s foul count reads similar to Bukayo Saka at Arsenal
If there is one thing that Dowman may have to get used to when playing for Arsenal, it’s getting fouled.
Some often see it as a compliment that some stars are targeted more than others, due to their talent and ability to drift away from defenders.
Bukayo Saka has certainly experienced this in his time at the club, with his skillset often creating opportunities to burn past the opposition, being fouled in the process.
Dowman has shown signs of that so far, with his ability to drop the shoulder creating some issues for defenders, who are unsure of which way he could be going.
It’s no surprise that the youngster ended up being fouled the most out of any player in the game, picking up four free-kicks for the Gunners.
That didn’t discourage the 15-year-old either, who ended up completing five of his eight dribbles attempted, along with one key pass.
It’s another glimpse into the potential for the star, who has plenty of it from the appearances he’s made so far.