Premier League medal rules and if Max Downman is allowed to receive Arsenal silverware

• Arsenal
• Arsenal News
• Arsenal

Arsenal star Max Dowman played a key role against Everton as the Gunners claimed an important win in the Premier League title race

Arsenal youngster Max Dowman emerged as the hero as the Gunners took a huge step towards clinching the Premier League title on Saturday. The 16-year-old was introduced from the bench in the 74th minute and played a pivotal role in steering the team to a 2-0 win over Everton.

Viktor Gyokeres broke the deadlock in the 89th minute but it was Dowman who stole the show as the club moved closer to collecting league winners’ medals. The midfielder took advantage of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford going forward for a late Everton corner, racing away and putting the ball into an empty net, becoming the youngest goal scorer of the Premier League era.

The result, combined with Manchester City’s subsequent draw with West Ham United, means Arsenal now have a nine-point lead at the top, albeit having played a game more. With their title rivals stalling, Mikel Arteta is edging closer to ending the Gunners’ title drought but teenage starlet Dowman still has some work to do to guarantee he receives a medal.

The club that wins the Premier League receives 40 medals in total. The rules stipulate that every player who has made five or more appearances in the competition must be given a medal.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

However, Dowman has only featured three times in the league so far this term. The teenager will hope to play in two of the team’s remaining seven matches to meet the five-game threshold.

While that is how the majority are allocated, the title-winning club are free to distribute any surplus medals as they wish. Should Arsenal get over the line, it would be customary for Arteta and other members of the coaching staff to receive one.

Players who do not make five appearances can also be awarded the silverware but it is at the club’s discretion. Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri would still be eligible, having played six league games before his loan move to Marseille in January.

Dowman may be called upon more frequently as Arsenal continue to compete across four competitions. The Premier League leaders will begin preparing for their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday before facing City in the Carabao Cup final next weekend.

Arteta will have faith that his squad can cope with the demands as the team enter the final stretch of the campaign. Both Gyokeres and Dowman scored after coming on as substitutes against Everton, showing the Gunners’ strength in depth.

When asked what he had told Dowman before introducing him, the Arsenal boss said: "Go and do your thing and win us the game. The same to Viktor and to [Gabriel] Martinelli, when something special has to happen."

In an interview with Sky Sports, Arteta said of Dowman's goal: "It was a great moment, especially the way the goal was built up, and we had like 10-15 seconds to really enjoy it.

"We knew the goal was about to happen, and it was magical, all the bench and all the players together, jumping off into the crowd. It was a beautiful day."