‘Special talent’ – Simon Jordan claims Arsenal wonderkid can be as good as Lamine Yamal

talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan believes Arsenal talent Max Dowman is on course for superstar status in world football. The 15-year-old midfielder played his first senior minutes for the Gunners in a pre-season friendly win against AC Milan on Wednesday. Dowman is certainly one to watchGetty Dowman replaced fellow academy graudate Bukayo Saka in the 66th minute of the 1-0 victory and scored in a penalty shootout. He follows Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as the latest Hale End star to earn first-team experience under Mikel Arteta. There are many wonderkids starring across Europe and the world, with Lamine Yamal arguably the most notable in the modern game. Aged 18, the winger has already scored 25 goals and assisted 34 for Barcelona and was part of Spain’s Euros triumph last summer. Yamal has set the standard for young talent, but Jordan has hinted that Dowman could match his levels in top flight football. “He looks like a very special talent,” he said on Kelly and Jordan: “I saw him just over a year ago, and I remember speaking to Danny Murphy about him, he was already plugged into him. “This is a very talented young man, that has the potential to be as good as anything that’s out there. I hate to throw these superlatives around because it makes unnecessary headlines for people… “If he continues on his journey, continues to be focussed and develop, he is in the talent bracket of people like Lamine Yamal. That’s the level he’s at. “This kid is a special, special talent. They’ll talk about the levels that he’s played at with the U17s, how many goals he’s scored for the England U17s. “But this is a special talent, the kind of player that takes on players, beats them and does it for fun, and produces an end product. He’s a very, very gifted player and quite frankly, this is the kind of talent that should be being produced inside the elite academies. Arsenal fans will hope to see plenty more of Dowman in pre-seasonGetty Jordan believes the Gunners have a remarkable talent on their handstalkSPORT Dowman his been tipped to emulate the extraordinary success of YamalGetty “Rather than hoovering them up for everyone else, they should be producing them themselves. “But the fact that Arsenal are producing young players, coming through, getting first-team opportunities and the old adage, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’, plays a part. “We’re seeing these young players get opportunities, we saw Jude Bellingham’s ascension, we’re seeing his brother [Jobe] ascend, we’re seeing other young players. “[Phil] Foden came through quickly [at Manchester City] and decided not to run away and get an opportunity in another country, wait for his opportunity and play for the best manager in the world, Pep Guardiola. “But if this boy, Dowman, continues the progress that he’s got, he is a superstar. “And I get the impression he’s got the balance and the outlook, and the backing behind him in terms of the structure of his life, that will give him that opportunity.” Dowman could be pushing for competitive minutes next seasonGetty Dowman made his debut for the Arsenal U18s at 13-years-old, and has scored 20 goals for the side alongside ten assists. The teenager netted 15 times in as many appearances in the U18 Premier League last season and later trained with the first team. He is yet to have been selected in a matchday squad by Arteta, but this could very well change in their 2025/26 campaign. Dowman is also a regular for the England U17s, for whom he has scored five times in 16 appearances. What Arteta said on the Arsenal youngsters Dowman wasn’t the only notable academy star to feature against Milan as fellow 15-year-old Marli Salmon also came off the bench. The defender came on for William Saliba in the second half and certainly made a positive impression on Arteta. Arsenal have strong expertise in developing young starsGetty “Very happy with all the kids,” the Arsenal boss said. “I think they are able to play at that level at 15-years-old in my opinion because of the environment and culture that is within the team. “When somebody makes you feel so comfortable and so confident straightaway you can go and do it. “At least it gives you the best chance and then you have to have the qualities this kid has to deliver against opposition like this.” Notable current players to have starred in Arsenal acadmey Harry Kane Bukayo Saka Michael Olise Eberechi Eze Ethan Nwaneri Myles Lewis-Skelly Emile Smith Rowe Serge Gnabry Emiliano Martinez Eddie Nketiah

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‘Special talent’ – Simon Jordan claims Arsenal wonderkid can be as good as Lamine Yamal

talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan believes Arsenal talent Max Dowman is on course for superstar status in world football.

The 15-year-old midfielder played his first senior minutes for the Gunners in a pre-season friendly win against AC Milan on Wednesday.

Dowman replaced fellow academy graudate Bukayo Saka in the 66th minute of the 1-0 victory and scored in a penalty shootout.

He follows Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as the latest Hale End star to earn first-team experience under Mikel Arteta.

There are many wonderkids starring across Europe and the world, with Lamine Yamal arguably the most notable in the modern game.

Aged 18, the winger has already scored 25 goals and assisted 34 for Barcelona and was part of Spain’s Euros triumph last summer.

Yamal has set the standard for young talent, but Jordan has hinted that Dowman could match his levels in top flight football.

“He looks like a very special talent,” he said on Kelly and Jordan: “I saw him just over a year ago, and I remember speaking to Danny Murphy about him, he was already plugged into him.

“This is a very talented young man, that has the potential to be as good as anything that’s out there. I hate to throw these superlatives around because it makes unnecessary headlines for people…

“If he continues on his journey, continues to be focussed and develop, he is in the talent bracket of people like Lamine Yamal. That’s the level he’s at.

“This kid is a special, special talent. They’ll talk about the levels that he’s played at with the U17s, how many goals he’s scored for the England U17s.

“But this is a special talent, the kind of player that takes on players, beats them and does it for fun, and produces an end product. He’s a very, very gifted player and quite frankly, this is the kind of talent that should be being produced inside the elite academies.

Arsenal fans will hope to see plenty more of Dowman in pre-season

Jordan believes the Gunners have a remarkable talent on their hands

Dowman his been tipped to emulate the extraordinary success of Yamal

“Rather than hoovering them up for everyone else, they should be producing them themselves.

“But the fact that Arsenal are producing young players, coming through, getting first-team opportunities and the old adage, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’, plays a part.

“We’re seeing these young players get opportunities, we saw Jude Bellingham’s ascension, we’re seeing his brother [Jobe] ascend, we’re seeing other young players.

“[Phil] Foden came through quickly [at Manchester City] and decided not to run away and get an opportunity in another country, wait for his opportunity and play for the best manager in the world, Pep Guardiola.

“But if this boy, Dowman, continues the progress that he’s got, he is a superstar.

“And I get the impression he’s got the balance and the outlook, and the backing behind him in terms of the structure of his life, that will give him that opportunity.”

Dowman could be pushing for competitive minutes next season

Dowman made his debut for the Arsenal U18s at 13-years-old, and has scored 20 goals for the side alongside ten assists.

The teenager netted 15 times in as many appearances in the U18 Premier League last season and later trained with the first team.

He is yet to have been selected in a matchday squad by Arteta, but this could very well change in their 2025/26 campaign.

Dowman is also a regular for the England U17s, for whom he has scored five times in 16 appearances.

What Arteta said on the Arsenal youngsters

Dowman wasn’t the only notable academy star to feature against Milan as fellow 15-year-old Marli Salmon also came off the bench.

The defender came on for William Saliba in the second half and certainly made a positive impression on Arteta.

Arsenal have strong expertise in developing young stars

“Very happy with all the kids,” the Arsenal boss said.

“I think they are able to play at that level at 15-years-old in my opinion because of the environment and culture that is within the team.

“When somebody makes you feel so comfortable and so confident straightaway you can go and do it.

“At least it gives you the best chance and then you have to have the qualities this kid has to deliver against opposition like this.”

Notable current players to have starred in Arsenal acadmey

Harry Kane

Bukayo Saka

Michael Olise

Eberechi Eze

Ethan Nwaneri

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Emile Smith Rowe

Serge Gnabry

Emiliano Martinez

Eddie Nketiah