Young Arsenal Star Max Dowman Shines for England U19s | OneFootball

Max Dowman (15) is quickly becoming one of the stories of the season. The Arsenal forward has already made his Premier League debut, winning a penalty in a victory over Leeds United, and has already earned a place in Mikel Arteta’s Champions League squad, which, should he feature before his 16th birthday in December, would make him the youngest player in history to appear in Europe’s elite competition.

His talent was again on display this past week in Spain, where Dowman featured for England’s under-19s. After his short 20-minute cameo off the bench in a 2-0 win over Ukraine, the teenager was trusted to start against Spain, producing an impressive performance in the 3-3 draw.

Spain manager ‘surprised’ by Dowman

Against opponents often two or three years older, including Real Madrid prospects Jesus Fortea and Daniel Yanez, Dowman more than held his own. By the half-hour mark, Dowman had been fouled seven times, requiring treatment on his ankle after yet another heavy challenge. “If you’re a good winger, that’s going to come your way,” said England head coach Will Antwi, speaking to The Athletic after the game. “He has the skill to cause opponents problems. In another game, the referee gives a few more cautions.”

Despite the constant attention, Dowman still found ways to influence the contest. He fired narrowly wide in the first half before winning a second-half penalty, which England duly converted to level the match at 2-2. Dowman was substituted midway through the second half and was congratulated by both his teammates and the coaching staff.

Speaking after the game, Spain head coach David Cubillo admitted that “He surprised me…He’s very unpredictable, the kind of player you can’t easily stop.”

Dowman’s display drew scouts from Barcelona, Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and both Manchester clubs, though few expect Arsenal to part with their new star. England’s final game of the tournament will be on Tuesday against the Netherlands, where Dowman will once again hope to play a decisive role.

GFN | Finn Entwistle