Mikel Arteta heaped praise on teenage sensation Max Dowman, calling his display “something special” after the 15-year-old became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter in their 2-0 League Cup win over Brighton.
Dowman, just two months shy of his 16th birthday, impressed with his composure and flair before receiving a standing ovation from the Emirates crowd.
“A tiny smile, that’s what you get with him,” Arteta said. “Everything feels natural to him. He just plays football with courage and determination — to do that at 15 in the Premier League is definitely something special.”
Goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealed the win, sending Arsenal into a quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace.
Arteta, however, stressed the importance of managing Dowman’s rapid rise carefully: “He’s developing fast, and we have to protect him while encouraging him to keep going the right way.”
