Max Dowman has been the talk of the town following his performance for Arsenal against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup.
The 15-year-old became the youngest player in the club and competition’s history to start a game, and he was very good.
Dowman completed more successful dribbles, drew more fouls and won more duels than any other player on the pitch.
That is absolutely incredible for someone of his age, but Micah Richards is worried about one thing.
Gary Lineker and Micah Richards disagree about Arsenal’s Max Dowman
It’s very rare to see a 15-year-old be a part of the first team at a club as big as Arsenal, but that’s how special a talent Max Dowman is.
The teenager has been training with the senior squad for over a year, but his first opportunity in a game came during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia.
Dowman impressed there, and Mikel Arteta then gave him his competitive debut in the Premier League clash against Leeds United.
It’s clear that the Arsenal manager is being cautious with the youngster. He is not playing every game and rightly so, but Richards is worried that could have a negative impact.
Gary Lineker, however, disagrees and believes Dowman will get plenty of minutes.
Here’s how their conversation went on the Rest is Football podcast:
Richards: “He’s special, isn’t he? He’s special. I think the difference that I see with him is that normally, you get thrown in at 15-16 because you are physically developed. And he’s not, he’s technically developed, which would say that he’s going to be something special.
“He’s just got a window from, I’d say, 16 to 18 to keep developing at the same rate. And Arteta comes with these quotes, but he has to be playing also, because you can’t get 30 minutes here and then 90 minutes (there), because other people are developing at a quicker rate than you would be.
“Maybe he needs to go out on loan. I know that’s maybe too early. I don’t think he can go out on loan yet, 15.”
Lineker: “They won’t do that!”
Richards: “I know, but he’s not going to get the game time.”
Lineker: “If he’s that good, he will.”
Richards: “But he plays in a position that (Bukayo) Saka plays, so he’s not.”
Lineker: “Well, I’ve seen him play in other positions.”
Richards: “He can play number 10 and he can play the other side and all that sort of stuff. But the manager, the way he is, I would say, he errs on the side of being a little bit more defensive with Saka and then allowing the players to come on. He’s not going to play ahead of Saka. But to keep developing, he needs to play. That would be my only worry.”
Lineker: “It’s going to be really interesting following his career and how Arteta does deal with him. It’s like anything; if you’re that good, he will find a way to play him. There’s no question about that.”
Arsenal already have a meticulous plan for Max Dowman’s development
Dowman is clearly better than any other 15-year-old in the country.
Arteta has recognised that and is giving him opportunities, but the Arsenal manager cannot just throw him on the pitch in every single game.
The Guardian revealed recently that the Gunners have mapped out a ‘meticulous progression plan’ for Dowman to bring the best out of him.
Giving him chances in the first team is part of it, but Arteta has been making Dowman play with the Arsenal academy sides as well over the last few months.
Richards is not wrong to be concerned about Dowman’s minutes, but Lineker is right; he will play games because he is good enough.
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