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Max Dowman has burst onto the scene at Arsenal this season and has already broken a number of records, but former Gunners winger Jermaine Pennant has a warning for the 15-year-old
Former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has advised young talent Max Dowman to remain patient and not get frustrated with a lack of first-team football, despite breaking numerous Gunners' records. The 15-year-old made history as the youngest player to appear in the Champions League after his brief appearance against Slavia Prague before the international break.
The gifted forward has emerged as one of the most thrilling prospects from London Colney since Bukayo Saka. Dowman has made two appearances in the Premier League, both as a substitute, but made an immediate impact during their resounding victory over Leeds United, winning the penalty that allowed Viktor Gyokeres to complete the scoring.
This month, he continues to play four years above his age group in the England set-up, having already made five appearances for Will Antwi's under-19s. Dowman has been setting records in his first three months of the season, becoming the second youngest player in Premier League history when he came on late against Daniel Farke's side.
He became the youngest Arsenal player to start a game for the first team when they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup. Pennant, now 42, made 26 appearances for the Gunners and debuted for the club as a 19-year-old in the Premier League against West Ham United in 2002.
The former striker was in a similar position to Dowman when he made his debut for Notts County in the FA Cup, just under two weeks before his 16th birthday.
He said speaking via NewBettingSites.uk: "You've got to take your hat off to him, at 15 years old he should be in school but he's in the Champions League away at Slavia Prague, making history.
"He's got his head on his shoulders, got good people around him to keep him grounded, Mikel Arteta is taking his time seeing him through and he looks a fantastic player with a fantastic future ahead of him."
Dowman has caught the eye of the Arsenal manager and Gunners midfielder Declan Rice has praised the youngster's mentality and ability following his breakthrough into the senior squad.
The Spanish boss has benefited from the academy system with players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, whilst Dowman looks set to be the next talent to emerge from the London Colney production line.
Having sampled first-team action comes an eagerness for more and Pennant has cautioned that the England under-19 international must not become impatient.
"The biggest thing is not to get frustrated," he added. "Once you get a taste, you want more, once that doesn't happen, you can get frustrated. It's like dangling the carrot, one minute it's there, the next it's gone.
"You've been amongst it but you've got to stay grounded, stay professional, keep working hard and understand that he's just 15 that's a very young age. He's got so much more to learn and grow as a player, he'll grow as an individual and biologically as well, he's got all that and look forward to.
"He has to stay grounded and not get frustrated at the lack of gametime."
The Arsenal head coach praised Dowman after his Champions League debut earlier this month. The former Arsenal midfielder commended the young player's character and bravery during his performance in Prague.
He stated: "What he's done on the pitch - he comes in, the first ball he takes is he takes people on, he starts to dribble and gets a foul. That's personality, that's courage - and you cannot teach that. You have it or you don't.
"And it doesn't matter what his passport says. You throw him in this context and he is able to adapt and have a good performance."
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