As Max Dowman dominated the Arsenal Asian tour for only 15 – and whatl Arte that you planned for “Kaka Clone” who excited Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard but did not even finish his GCSE
For the humid evening in Singapore and the Arsenal players are going through the final heating before a pre-stuagional clash with Newcastle.
One of the first to take the field is a slender and focused teenager, barely big enough to start his GCSE which is already an attraction from curious glances from veterans and coaches. Max Dowman, only 15 years old, is a name that the fans of Arsenal had heard only whispers, shared clips, but one who will soon get to know well.
Dowman had his first training tasting with the Senior team last season at only 14 years old. Mikel Arte has seen enough to include it in the winnal winter trip and again this summer for this tour in Asia that arrived this week. The goal was not to hurry it, but to gradually show the midfielder with men’s football, new surroundings, full stages, expert professionals.
And Dowman has not just faced, he thrived. Against Milan, his first touches were a direct race on goal. Later, I converted the penalty in the shooting. In the following game against Newcastle, I faced a real premier league test against Brazil International Joelinton and the physicality of the Eddie Howe midfield. Dowman not only kept his own, but won the decisive rigor after a foul from Joelinton.
Generally a n. 10 In the youth sides, where “Rons the Show”, according to a coach of the Academy, Dowman was deployed on the right during the tour. It was a proof of its tactical adaptability, which passed with the flying colors.
During training, he gravitated to his age companions, includes 15 -year -old Marli salmon. But equally they were the oldest players gravitated for him. Declan Rice has been seen with one arm around Dowman, speaking of positioning. Martin Odegaard, the Arsenal captain and himself as a teenager prodigy for Real Madrid at the age of 16, led to clarifying interest.
Max Dowman, 15 years old, held his old man against the premier league veterans during the pre-stuagional tour of Arsenal in Asia
The Senior Stars of Arsenal as Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard took the young Dowman under the wings
Dowman won the winner of the match against Newcast What Bundled in the box by Joelinton
Odegaard, now 26 years old, said: I just try to share my experience and help them remain more crossed. The quality is there. They only need the right mentality, the right support and the time to grow. ‘
Arte you have been particularly practical with Dowman, offering a guide during heating and even sit for a longer chat in the shelter between training sessions, while fans have chare his name.
The Spanish director, a father of two children, is deeply aware of the need for balance: development without burnout, exposure without exploitation. Dowman will be in the middle of his GCSE studies just when the Premier League season begins, it is not a company to manage the bot.
Physically, Dowman is already well equipped. At 6 feet, he did not look out of the plate when he trained together with the new meaning of Viktor Gyokooes. Looking from the sidelines, it was Har to say to the Extablishment star and who was the raw child. Maybe Dowman is already both.
His third and last appearance on tour came against Tottenham, where I printed eleven again, twisting the defenders and playing without fear. But Arte remains cautious. At 15, the body is still developing. Arsenal’s goal is Dowman’s long -term health and constant progression, not a debut in the main group.
This approach reflects the widest philosophy of Arsenal. Dowman was introduced into the “Strong Young Gunner” framework when he joined the Academy: “Sample mind, student for life, efficient move and team player”.
You are only the slogans of Are. Form the nucleus of his education. And the energetic, high pressure of the Arsenal, perfectly attack Dowman’s instincts.
It has been in front of the curve for years. At 13, he was already playing for U18. Last September I made the story. With most of the away staff in a Champions League match in Italy, Dowman became the youngest UEFA Youth League marker, incorporated against Atalanta for the Under 19s only only 14 years, eight supports and 19 days.
Mikel Arte did not have hydroelectric for Dowman’s potential, but the head of Arsenal does not hurry the development of the midfielder
We hope to follow in the footsteps of Myles Lewis-Skelly (left), which broke out in the first team from the Academy of last season
Dowman trained with Arsenal’s first team since he was only 14 years old
His parents were there, they flew to the same commercial flight as some journalists. His father, Robert, a successful businessman and a coach of the past and co -owner of the Billericay Town Football Club, is described as support but not overbearing. The family member trusted the Arsenal staff to manage the development of his son, Bush technically and emotionally and the club reciprocated with care and professionalism.
Dowman cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17 on the eve of New Year’s Eve in 2026, although the pre-payments are common. Arsenal has already sailed in this path with talents such as Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest Premier League player in history. But even in that impressive company, Dowman’s trajectory seems unusually steep.
This season, it is the experience of presenting regularly for Under 21, he said to be at school. The exhibition of the first team will probably remain measured: occasional training, limited minute, maximum protection.
After the Newcastle match, Arte said: ‘It’s special. What he did today, against this level of opposition, in the time he had. He has been subjected to not see for 15 years. We are happy to have it. His family and the academy staff played everyone to separate from him to reach this point. ‘
The Arsenal Aren treats the Dowman in a different way, but are dealing with it. There are interviews, non -commercial partnerships, non -campaigns pr orchestrated. Only football, school and support.
The coach of Arsenal Academy Gustavo Oliveira last year compared Dowman to a legend of the Brazilian midfield: “He plays in Kaka’s style. One day he will play for the English national team and in the Premier League. ‘
Dowman attended a nine -year -old escapes football field – a family holiday program combined with the premier league football coach such as Mark Noble and Michael Dawson.
He made a rare interview with the company in August 2024, where he spoke of his brief formation of phases with the first team of Arsenal.
The captain of Arsenal Martin Odegaard took a keen interest in Dowman and is guiding the young man – having been a teenage prodigy at Real Madrid
Dowman cannot sign a professional agreement until he turns 17 in December next year – but Arsenal could seal a pre -agreement before securing his future
Dowman tries to copy Rice’s trick to juggle with the ball with the lower back during the open training
“The first time we were just defending ourselves and I felt like a Moaming mannequin,” he said. ‘I was not really involving myself so well because I was just defending. But the second time was the defense of attack v. I got involved more and I did better than the first time. It was really intact. It was really surreal for me to be honest. ‘
On which the players felt starred, he invented the rice and William Saliba.
Now it is not stunned and the reflector is inevitable, but Arsenal has placed their faith not only in the talent of the download, but in its temperament and in theirs. Whether it remains in the Arsenal in the long term – even if the thought of leaving inconceivable Ses – Dowman is given every tool and every safeguard to thrive.
The genius could be out of the bottle. But the boy and the ball appeal to be in the most positive hands.