Jack Wilshere's remarks about 15-year-old Arsenal starlet likened to Kaka say it all

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman has captured attention this summer through his appearances on the club's pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Singapore.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has previously heaped praise on the 15-year-old, who has caught the eye in games against AC Milan and Newcastle. Fans and pundits like Rio Ferdinand have also taken note of the youngster's keen eye for a pass and impressive ability for one at such a tender age.

However, for those within and around the north London outfit, Dowman's rise comes as no surprise. Former Arsenal midfielder and ex-coach of the club's under-18s, Jack Wilshere, once lauded the teenager for his displays, whilst another mentor previously compared the youngster to Brazilian legend Kaka.

Following Arsenal's youth team's 5-2 victory over Fulham last year, during which Dowman provided four assists, Wilshere endorsed the young talent to reach Arteta's first XI, reports the Mirror.

Such commendation carries significant weight, as Wilshere himself debuted at just 16 years and 256 days, establishing himself as Arsenal's youngest-ever league debutant at that time.

"There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you're good enough you're old enough," Wilshere told club media in April 2024. "He can be more consistent but he's only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet.

"We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy the game because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can. Hopefully we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team, he'll be more ready."

Speaking about Dowman's dependability and his ability to handle pressure, Wilshere added: "It's reassuring to know that if I field an under-14 who isn't a regular in our training sessions, I can trust that they grasp our playing style and tactics. Debut opportunities aren't handed out lightly, and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance."

Academy coach Gustavo Oliveira made the exciting comparison between Dowman and Milan legend Kaka. Impressed by what he had seen from the then 14-year-old, Oliveira said: "He plays in the style of Kaka. He can write his name. One day he will play for the England national team and in the Premier League."

However, even the Champions League-winning Brazilian had to wait until he was 18 to make his professional debut for Sao Paulo. Arteta has recently expressed his desire to give more Arsenal academy stars a chance to prove their worth in the first team, something Dowman is currently doing in abundance.

Arteta said: "We want to get as much talent as we possibly can from the academy and bring it up to the first team. This is a beautiful context for them to get involved.

"The way they adapt at that age, I could not do - but I think this generation goes faster. They are ready a little bit earlier. We don't have to rush. Make sure we manage the right steps and the right expectations for all of them, and then let's see what they demand."

Dowman's talent isn't going unnoticed outside the walls of Arsenal either. Former Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand recently branded the 15-year-old as "the best in the world" in his age group and even hailed the youngster's frightening talent as "a joke.”

Fans may get another glimpse of Dowman in action on Thursday, as Arsenal face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season clash in Hong Kong.

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