Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a stunning comparison between teenage prodigy Max Dowman and football legend Lionel Messi, following the announcement that the 16-year-old has committed his long-term future to the north London club. Dowman, who has already made a significant impact this season, has agreed to senior terms with Arsenal, with the deal set to officially become a professional contract when he turns seventeen on December 31st.
Record-Breaking Debut and Early Career
Max Dowman burst onto the scene earlier this season, making his Premier League debut at just fifteen years and 234 days old during Arsenal's emphatic 5-0 victory over Leeds United in August. This remarkable appearance made him the youngest ever starter for the Gunners, a record he further cemented with an impressive performance in a Carabao Cup win against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium in October.
The young midfielder continued to break barriers a month later when he came off the bench in Arsenal's Champions League victory at Slavia Prague, becoming the first fifteen-year-old to feature in the prestigious European competition. In total, Dowman has made five appearances for the first team this campaign, though he has been sidelined for nearly two months with an ankle injury that temporarily halted his rapid ascent.
Arteta's Extraordinary Praise
When questioned about where Dowman ranks among the academy talents he has witnessed throughout his career, Arteta – who was on Barcelona's books concurrently with Messi during his playing days – offered extraordinary praise. "Well, certainly one of the best," Arteta stated. "What he has done with us, me personally, I haven't seen before. Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona – but maybe not even that."
The Arsenal manager elaborated on the teenager's unique qualities, highlighting his composure and character. "He has a certain charisma as well and personality. He doesn't get overwhelmed, whether it's by the situation or the stadium or the opposition and that's a huge quality to have." Arteta emphasised the productive communication that has developed between the club and the young star, noting that "it's now down to him and us to build an amazing career."
Squad Management and Title Race Dynamics
Beyond the excitement surrounding Dowman's development, Arteta addressed broader squad management issues ahead of Arsenal's crucial Premier League trip to Leeds on Saturday. The Spaniard revealed he has a full squad available for selection but expressed frustration with current Premier League regulations that force him to omit players from matchday squads.
"At the moment there are two or three players that I have to leave out. These are the rules of the Premier League," Arteta explained. He made a passionate plea for change, suggesting the league should adopt Champions League-style squad rules. "I beg them, like it is in the Champions League, to change it, because it's much better to manage the squad, to maintain the value of the players and to maintain the mental health of the players."
Arteta highlighted the unique psychological challenges of football management, stating: "We have a really unique job, which is the ability to transform somebody's life, career. But every week we have to tell somebody, 'Tomorrow you don't do your job and you're not even allowed to travel with the team'. Tell me a job that you have to do that?"
Maintaining Relationships Amid Title Battle
With Arsenal currently sitting four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, Arteta also addressed his relationship with former mentor Pep Guardiola. The Arsenal manager served as Guardiola's assistant at City for three years before taking the helm at the Emirates.
"I don't talk with him like my wife, but we talk," Arteta remarked with characteristic humour. "For me, the surprising thing would be to not maintain that relationship. And it would set a really bad example for sport."
Arteta drew inspiration from other sporting rivalries, particularly that between tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. "The biggest lesson sport has given us was the relationship that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had. We are not at that level. But they were two of the best in history, even though they had to play in finals."
He concluded with a firm commitment to both friendship and competition: "So how the hell am I not going to have a great relationship with someone that I admire? But when it goes to the court, or to the pitch, that's for the winner."
