Arsenal face Newcastle United in a must-win game as the Premier League title race reaches its climax.
The Gunners cannot afford any slip-ups at this stage, with Manchester City level on points with them. Every point matters, and so does momentum.
Mikel Arteta will be looking for something extra to give his side the edge in such a high-pressure fixture against Eddie Howe’s side on Saturday.
That spark could come from an unlikely source – Max Dowman.
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Max Dowman could be Arsenal’s secret weapon vs Newcastle
Dowman is still only a teenager, but he has already shown that he is capable of stepping up on big occasions.
The Arsenal academy graduate has faced Newcastle United once in the past – in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia last summer.
Dowman, who was just 15 years old at the time, came off the bench and completely changed the game. His energy, confidence and fearlessness stood out immediately.
The youngster came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, only to be denied by some excellent saves. Dowman was even compared to Lionel Messi after his performance there.
However, what really caught the eye was how he handled Newcastle’s physical players. Joelinton, in particular, struggled to deal with him.
Dowman beat him with ease in one moment before being cynically pulled back. Shortly after, he drove into the box again and was brought down by the Brazilian, winning a penalty for Arsenal.
That sequence showed his ability to take on players, make things happen and impact games against a side as good as Newcastle.
Dowman was an unused substitute against Manchester City, but this home game against the Toon could be the perfect opportunity to unleash him.
With the crowd behind him at the Emirates and confidence from that previous display, we think the 16-year-old could provide exactly the kind of unpredictability Arsenal need.
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What Joelinton said about Dowman after he got the better of him
Joelinton is always up for a fight, and his cynical challenge on 15-year-old Dowman in that game showed exactly what he is all about.
That would’ve been a great experience for the youngster, especially as he got the better of the Newcastle United star on more than one occasion.
Despite being outplayed on that occasion, Joelinton showed great respect for Dowman after the game.
He said: “He’s a really good player with a bright future in front of him. I wish him all the best.”
Those words underline just how highly Dowman is rated, even by his opponents. If given the chance again on Saturday, we’re convinced that he will be eager to prove that performance was no fluke.
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