Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman after senior debut in friendly win over AC Milan but refuses to outline first-team plan for 15-year-old talent

Max Dowman Arsenal 2025-26

Mikel Arteta has hailed 15-year-old Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman after he made his senior debut against AC Milan on Wednesday.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal beat Milan 1-0 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, with Bukayo Saka the goal-scorer. In the game, manager Arteta gave two 15-year-olds their first tastes of senior football, with Marli Salmon and Dowman both coming off the bench.

Arsenal FC v AC Milan: Pre-Season Friendly

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Arteta was full of praise for both of the "kids" who came onto the pitch, and reserved special praise for Dowman, although he stopped short of outlining the plan for him next season. Dowman has already won 14 caps for England's U17s, and he scored 15 goals in 15 league appearances for Arsenal's U18s last season.

WHAT ARTETA SAID

Arteta told reporters: "Yes, I'm very happy with all the kids, I think they are able to play at that level, with 15 years old, in my opinion, because of the environment, and the culture that is within the team, and when somebody makes you feel so comfortable, so confident, straight away you can go and do it. Obviously it gives you the best chance, you have to have the qualities that this kid has."

Asked about the plan for next season for Dowman, he added: "No, we don't know, with all the young kids at the end, they are in and around the team constantly, and they are really used to the dynamics, the demands, and especially raising the physical levels, because the demands, and actually to be able to perform and impact the game at that level, it demands really, really high physical standards, and they are getting that, and that gives them another platform, and then they will have to earn it." 

FBL-SIN-ENG-ITA-ARSENAL-AC MILAN

WHAT NEXT?

Arsenal play Newcastle on July 27 in Singapore in their next pre-season friendly, before meeting Tottenham for the first north London derby on foreign shores.