Max Dowman Has Inspired Arsenal In Hunt For Silverware, Says Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta believes Max ­Dowman’s emergence has inspired nan remainder of Arsenal’s players and will benefit their quest for silverware this season.

Dowman became nan youngest goalscorer successful Premier League history aft coming connected arsenic a substitute successful nan 2‑0 triumph against Everton on Saturday. Arsenal stretched their lead astatine nan apical of nan array complete Manchester City to 9 points.

The 16-year-old, who became the youngest subordinate to look successful nan Champions League when ­facing ­Slavia Prague during nan convention shape successful November, is apt to beryllium connected nan chair again for nan 2nd limb of their last-16 necktie against Bayer Leverkusen contempt nan continued absence of Martin Ødegaard. Arteta is hopeful of nan Norway midfielder returning for nan Carabao Cup last against City connected Sunday.

Asked whether immoderate of ­Dowman’s youthful enthusiasm could swipe disconnected connected a squad that has played 48 games this play successful nan pursuit for an ­unpre­cedented quadruple, Arteta said: “That’s a bully point. It’s very inspiring erstwhile you spot personification almost naive making decisions and flowing and sloppy playing successful that manner. It’s great.

“Probably our players rea­lised arsenic well. It’s a bully example, playing pinch that travel and enthusiasm is very beneficial for nan team.”

On Dowman’s goal, Riccardo ­Calafiori said: “I was so, truthful happy. Maybe nan champion infinitesimal of nan ­season truthful far, astatine slightest successful Premier League for sure. He’s truthful young, but astatine nan aforesaid clip truthful mature connected nan pitch. He tin amended galore things, but he’s a ­talent. You tin spot it. But we person to time off him quiet and effort not to speak astir him excessively overmuch because he has everything.”

Wayne Rooney, who antecedently held nan grounds for nan Premier League’s youngest goalscorer, has questioned whether Dowman’s GCSE commitments could forestall him from playing regularly for ­Arsenal’s first squad during nan title run-in. While Arteta is keen to ­protect his ­rising prima contempt speculation that he could look arsenic a contender for England World Cup squad, he praised Dowman for taking everything successful his stride.

“I didn’t expect that benignant of goal, but his cognition and his determination ­making, yes. If not I wouldn’t person made nan determination to play him,” Arteta said. “But past to beryllium that precise and present nan infinitesimal that he delivered, that’s thing difficult to imagine. He is knocking connected nan doorway astatine 16, saying: ‘I americium bully capable and I tin effect this squad whenever it is needed.’ And he is doing it erstwhile he is playing.”

Asked whether Dowman could beryllium a contender for England successful nan ­summer, Arteta said: “Let’s spell crippled by game, please.”