Max Dowman scored twice as Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4-2 in the Carabao Cup third round at Portman Road, with the 16-year-old further strengthening his case for regular first-team football.
Dowman opened the scoring after seven minutes, intercepting the ball in midfield before playing a one-two with Eberechi Eze and sprinting towards the box. Ipswich defender Cedric Kipre failed to tackle the teenager and fell to the ground as Dowman reached the area and struck powerfully past goalkeeper Christian Walton with his weaker right foot.
Two minutes into the second half, Martin Zubimendi's prodded pass sent Dowman through on goal again, and the youngster curled the ball home softly for his second of the night.
Playing in the number 10 role, Dowman also looked for through balls throughout the match and tracked back to help defensively, something manager Mikel Arteta noted as an improvement on his form last season.
Arteta praises Dowman's natural talent
Arteta was full of praise for the teenager after the match. "That's something very natural for him, and he can deliver those actions effortlessly. That's his biggest quality," he said.
"He's an unbelievable player because of the character that he has and how much he loves to play at the biggest stage and still handle the situation with such naturality," Arteta added. "At 16 to already do what he does, it's just incredible."
A pathway for young players at Arsenal
Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, fielded four teenagers in the match despite their strength in depth. Marli Salmon, 17, started at centre back and looked comfortable on the ball despite occasionally straying out of position. Myles Lewis-Skelly, 19, also started, while 18-year-old Theo Julienne came on as a substitute.
Arteta named Bukayo Saka on the bench and left Declan Rice at home, a contrast to last season's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Port Vale, when he started Saka and used Rice as a substitute. The team also featured an unconventional defensive setup, with Zubimendi playing at right back, while Viktor Gyokeres led the attack again having started against Napoli in the Champions League the previous week.
Arsenal's other goals
Noni Madueke doubled Arsenal's lead after Bruno Guimaraes made a crunching tackle that set the ball loose. Mikel Merino chipped the ball over the top to Madueke, who opened his body and rifled it home with the outside of his left boot, putting Arsenal two goals clear inside 16 minutes.
Dowman added Arsenal's third goal in the second half. Merino then scored Arsenal's fourth after latching onto a pass from Zubimendi, which Dowman had faintly touched, striking from outside the area with the ball cannoning in off the left post.
Anis Mehmeti pulled back a consolation goal for Ipswich, and Hale End academy graduate Chuba Akpom also scored for the home side in injury time. Despite the late goals, the night belonged to Dowman.
Contrast with Manchester United's JJ Gabriel
Dowman's rise at Arsenal stands in contrast to the situation of 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who is trying to force a move away from Manchester United. Arsenal's willingness to give young players like Dowman regular opportunities in the first team offers an example of the pathway available to talented youngsters elsewhere in English football.
