Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler faced the media after his side crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Arsenal.
Arsenal’s winning and clean sheet streak continues, as it’s now six games without conceding a goal for Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Brighton found a way to test Arsenal, though the hosts deservedly won the game, with the scoreline not lying.
Ethan Nwaneri opened the scoring, and then, from the bench, Bukayo Saka contributed to the goals.
The winger was one of the names on Fabian Hurzeler’s lips at full-time, but not because he scored.
Fabian Hurzeler thinks Max Dowman is like Bukayo Saka
Hurzeler expected Arsenal to threaten Brighton from set-play at the Emirates, but admitted he was unsure about one thing the hosts would do.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the German coach revealed that Brighton were unsure whether it would be Saka or Max Dowman starting on the right.
Most interestingly, it didn’t make much of a difference to Hurzeler, who stated that he sees Dowman and Saka as two players with similar styles.
“He is a similar profile to Saka. We didn’t know who was going to start,” the Brighton manager said of Dowman.
The 15-year-old got the nod over the England international, but he actually caused the Seagulls as much damage as his teammate did.
Brighton couldn’t cope with Dowman on the night, who was a force to be reckoned with against players way beyond his years.
Mikel Arteta has likened Dowman to Saka before
The idea of Arsenal having another Saka in their ranks is something many thought only a dream could produce, but it’s the reality now because of Dowman.
Speaking before Arsenal’s third-round Carabao Cup clash against Port Vale, Arteta, like Hurzeler, addressed where Saka and Dowman are similar.
“Very similar to Bukayo in the beginning as well,” Arteta said when speaking about the frequency with which Dowman is fouled.
“Those players are going to attract players, contact, attention, and they have to be very smart when you want that contact and when you don’t want it, and what you have to do to avoid it.”
It’s huge praise for Dowman to be compared to Saka, but what’s even more remarkable is that the teenager isn’t actually a winger.
The 15-year-old’s favoured position is in central attacking midfield, but if he can replicate what Saka does on the flank, perhaps his preference could change.
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