Max Dowman kept Arsenal on course for the title with a crucial strike
Max Dowman sealed the deal with an empty-netter against Everton in the 7th minute of injury time. Max makes Premier League history this evening.
Arsenal were looking to take another step towards the title in the Emirates Stadium, but international winger Victor Gyökeres s redeemed Arteta's side in the 89th minute and the young and talented Max Dowman sealed the deal with an empty-netter against Everton in the 7th minute of injury time.
Max Dowman is destined to be a big thing for the Gunners. Arsenal could very well have the next big thing on their hands as the youngster scored his first professional goal. Leaving the big door open to reach the top and write his name in golden letters in the history of the Gunners.
Arsenal, who have been criticized for an over-reliance on set pieces this season, and with no one to save them, did not seem to be able to find anything magical in this open game against the wonderful Everton . That was until 16-year-old Dowman came on as a second-half substitute and delivered a brilliant pass into the area that left Jordan Pickford immobilized and allowed Piero Hincapie to release Victor Gyökeres into an empty net and open the scoring in the 89th minute. And a little later in the 90’ +7’ it was the turn of the youngster, Dowman, to score 2-0, which gave Arsenal the opportunity to continue leading the race to the top of the Premier League to win the title, after 22 years.
This goal even makes Dowman officially the youngest scorer in the history of the Premier League. Dowman, 16 years and 73 days, is a student at “Mr Wright’s School of Excellence” in the clever ad that shows Wright trying to convince the rising star to choose boots that offer more control, only for him to go against the grain and choose the chaotic option.
Arsenal fans couldn’t help but love the ad and reacted on social media.
One wrote: “This ad is sweeping.”
While another added: “Dowman gets his own Adidas advert at 16, generational stuff.” And a third posted: “Already starring in adverts, we’ll be winning for the next decade.”
Dowman is considered one of Arsenal’s most exciting talents and became the youngest player in Champions League history when he made his debut off the bench against Slavia Prague as a 15-year-old earlier this season.
Dowman, who plays as both an attacking midfielder and a right-winger, signed the terms of the scholarship last month.
The youngster will sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 in December. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Dowman is better than Lionel Messi at the same age, after the youngster's scholarship deal was announced.
He said: "Well, he's definitely one of the best. I mean, what he's done with us at the age of 15, I personally, I've never seen it before. Only with a guy who played for Barcelona... but maybe not even that.
“He's also got a certain charisma and personality that doesn't overwhelm him, whether it's because of the situation or the stadium or the opponent, and that's a huge asset.”
While Declan Rice said that Jack Wilshere was the one who made him realise Dowman's talents when he was just 14.
Rice said: "He's unbelievable. He's a talent I've never seen at that age."
“I remember it was [Jack] Wilshere who first told me about him. “He said, ‘I’ve got this 14-year-old playing for the Under-18s. You’ve got to watch him.’”
“And from that moment on, it was just… you could tell. You know when a player is good and Max has certainly done that.”
In fact, he became the youngest goalscorer in the history of one of the world’s top leagues. Dowman is 16 years and 73 days old and has broken all the records in Arsenal and the Premier League history.
He surpassed James Vaughan when he scored against Crystal Palace in April 2005, aged 16 years and 270 days. At the same time, Dowman also became the youngest player in Arsenal's history to score a goal, surpassing Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard scored at the age of 16 years, 6 months and 28 days, on 2 December 2003, against Wolves in the League Cup.
The 5 youngest scorers in the Premier League:
Max Dowman March 2026 16 years, 73 days
James Vaughan April 2005 16 years, 270 days
James Milner December 2002 16 years, 356 days
Wayne Rooney October 2002 16 years, 360 days
Rio Engumoa August 2025 16 years, 361 days

Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece)












