Arsenal academy star has become unstoppable since position change, Hale End coach is ‘really pleased’

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Mikel Arteta is reaping the benefits of the work being done within Arsenal’s academy.

Hale End is the talk of the Premier League after matchday two of the 2025/26 season, as Max Dowman made his record-breaking debut. 

The 15-year-old was given minutes to impress against players almost twice his age and showed no sign of nerves, leaving so many in the game stunned.

Dowman has been compared to Lionel Messi, which has fans wondering what else is going on in Arsenal’s academy, in what has been a particularly successful time for Hale End. 

• READ MORE: Not just Max Dowman, six other Arsenal academy stars also join Eberechi Eze in first training session

Ceadach O’Neill is shining at Hale End

After Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri’s breakthrough season of 2024/25, Dowman looks to be the next big thing to come from Arsenal. 

Arsenal want to reduce attention on Dowman to best support his rise to stardom, and what better way than to possibly distract outsiders with other top talents on show in the academy. 

While Dowman is a part of the first team now, his U18s teammates are putting in the work early in their season.

On Tuesday, Arsenal U18 beat Peterborough United 4-0 in the Premier League Cup, a match that saw one player in particular shine.

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website at full-time, U18 coach Adam Birchall put 17-year-old Ceadach O’Neill under the spotlight. 

O’Neill scored a brace in the win, two goals to add to his tally in what has been an explosive start to the season for the Northern Irishman.

“I’m really pleased for Ceadach, he’s playing a bit more as a nine now, but one thing he does have is that he’s going to threaten in behind,” Birchall said.

“He’s got really good technique and ball-striking, so in those moments, giving him the opportunity to practice as a nine, to find the composure, I think that’s five goals in three games for him, so I’m really pleased for him.”

Traditionally a winger, O’Neill has been moved to play as a centre-forward, which has proven to be a success, having scored five goals in only three appearances in 2025/26. 

O’Neill could be the next Arsenal fan to represent the Gunners

What’s most exciting about O’Neill is that his future is committed to Arsenal, signing his first professional contract with the club in April.

In an interview posted on Arsenal’s website at the time, the 17-year-old explained that his connection to the club goes deeper than it merely being a part of his career. 

“Growing up, my dad supported Arsenal, so I grew up supporting Arsenal,” the Northern Irishman said.

“I really liked watching Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil growing up because they were unreal players and I really loved watching them.”

If O’Neill can go on to become a player even half as successful as either Ozil or Sanchez, Arsenal will be delighted, with the future looking incredibly bright for the youngster.