Ex-Arsenal captain says only one thing can stop Max Dowman’s rise to superstardom | OneFootball

Max Dowman is the only one who can stop himself from becoming a superstar, according to former Arsenal captain David O’Leary.

The 16-year-old attracted attention this week after scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich.

That game stands as Dowman’s only appearance of the season so far, with Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions recording seven wins from seven games in a formidable start to their campaign.

Dowman will hope to feature in Saturday’s trip to Brighton, though the depth of Arteta’s squad means the teenager could miss out.

Speaking to talkSPORT, O’Leary, who holds the record with 722 appearances for the Gunners, said: "For years, everybody has been talking about Max behind the scenes.

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David O'Leary believes Dowman is destined for the top (AFP/Getty)

"Arsenal are very lucky to have him, and Max is lucky to have an outstanding manager in Mikel to push him on.

"It is about nurturing him. We know he is going to be an absolute top player, and it is about giving him the right time, the right games and not going crazy about him. The club will know how to use him well.

"He is not arrogant, he is very confident, he is not shy when he gets the ball, and he enjoys the big arena, and he has an edge to his game.

"Max is up and against, and involved in, one of the best squads in the country. And it only looks one way that Max will go, so if we don’t see Max as a superstar, it will be because of Max himself.

"He is at a team which are clearly the ones to beat, and they could go on to dominate for quite a while."

Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history when he netted against Everton in March at just 16 years and 73 days old.

Across all competitions, he has played 14 games for Arsenal already, scoring three goals. Dowman has operated as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing, but faces tough competition to become a regular starter, with Arteta able to call upon captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in these positions.