Arteta urges caution over Arsenal wonderkid after historic brace
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineArsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged caution over the development of teenage sensation Max Dowman despite the 16-year-old producing a historic display in the Carabao Cup.
Dowman scored twice as Arsenal defeated Ipswich Town 4-2 at Portman Road, matching a record previously set by Wayne Rooney for Everton in 2002.
Making his first appearance of the campaign for the reigning Premier League champions, Dowman opened the scoring after seven minutes, beating Cedric Kipre before finding the bottom corner.
He added his second early in the second half, while his pressing also contributed to Noni Madueke’s goal and he played a role in Mikel Merino’s curling effort for Arsenal’s fourth.
The brace made Dowman only the second 16-year-old to score twice for a Premier League club.
Arteta praised Dowman and fellow prospect Marli Salmon after the victory, highlighting the teenager’s ability to produce at both ends of the pitch.
Arteta said: “A joy to have him, Marli as well. Max, yeah, it’s inevitable to talk about him when he scores and he creates the moments that he has created tonight.
“He can deliver those actions effortlessly, I would say.
“That’s his biggest quality and defensively, his application, his capacity as well to sustain the actions, which is not easy, he’s 16 years old and he can create moments but consistently to go through the game.”
The Arsenal boss also praised Dowman’s ability to cope with the physical and mental demands placed on players in his system.
Arteta said: “With the demands that we put in them, to be able to do that is extremely difficult and he’s coping better and better and better.
“He’s an unbelievable player because of the character that he has and how much he loves to play at the biggest stage.”
However, Arteta stressed that Arsenal must carefully manage the attention surrounding the teenager and ensure he is properly prepared whenever he is selected.
Arteta said: “It’s not easy [to contain the hype], I understand, but what we have to do is look after him. He’s 16 years old. You don’t see that in this league.
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“In other leagues in Europe, that’s a totally different context, but in this league, with the demands that the league [has], the players and everything put on you, we really need to make sure every time we throw him in, he’s in the right context with the right preparation.”
The Spaniard also underlined how unusual it is for a player of Dowman’s age to cope with the physicality of top-level English football.
Arteta said: “The probability is probably extremely low because you don’t see the players with the capacity to handle just the physicality of the game… but he’s doing it and he’s doing it really well every time there’s a chance.”
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