Max Dowman admits being starstruck by two Arsenal stars in training

Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has previously revealed who stunned him the most when training with the Gunners' first team

Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman said he was starstruck by Gunners stars Declan Rice and William Saliba during his first training session with the first team. The 16-year-old announced himself to the Premier League in stunning fashion last weekend.

Having become the youngest person to play in the Champions League earlier this season at just 15, the teenager was introduced during the second half against Everton. He ran the length of the pitch during a counterattack before calmly slotting home in the 97th minute.

That made him the youngest ever Premier League goal-scorer, aged 16 and 73 days, in what many expect will be an extraordinary career. The starlet has come a long way since being bowled over by two of Arsenal's many superstars.

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Asked which players impressed him the most in July 2025, he said: "I’d say Saliba or Declan Rice. Just the way they played, how composed they were. How they carried themselves in training.”

While Dowman may have been impressed by Rice and Saliba, it appears the admiration is reciprocal. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live last summer, Rice waxed lyrical about the young attacking midfielder when he was just 15.

"I have had so many texts about Max recently," Rice said. "At 15, there is such a long way to go. You can be the best 15-year-old in the country, but it doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be at 18.

"So, you need to be hungry, keep working and keep pushing. I speak to Max a lot and he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal."

Speaking to TNT Sports late last year, Rice shared his disbelief at Dowman's age and the player's rapid ascent. "I said to Max on the way back from pre-season tour, I couldn't get my head around it that he was going back to school," Rice said.

"He FaceTimed the other day and he had his school uniform on, and I was like, 'Mate, you've just played in the Premier League a week ago, and now you're walking back through the school gates'.

"Even me as a 15-year-old, going into West Ham's first team dressing room, I would no way have been as confident as he was. I would've been quiet in the corner.

"Unless someone spoke to me, I wouldn't have spoken to them, whereas I feel like now, Max especially, he's just so confident in himself and his ability. The support network here is incredible and I've seen the academy - the way they work, it's insane."

Saliba has also returned the compliment to Dowman following his heroics against the Toffees. The centre-back said: "To be honest scoring for a player who is only 16 years old, who plays like this and comes onto the pitch and can change the game is amazing.

"He's a nice guy as well; he's humble and wants to improve every day. I'm so happy for him, I hope we can keep going together and winning like this."