Arsenal youngster Max Dowman has been the talk of the town recently.
The teenager hasn’t made a senior competitive appearance for the Gunners yet, but every fan has known him for the better part of a year now.
That’s because Dowman had been impressing at youth level over the last 12 months, and he blew everyone away during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia as well.
Peter Crouch, who has seen many great young players over the years, is amazed by Dowman as well.
Peter Crouch says Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman plays like Lionel Messi
Max Dowman was unbelievable during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia.
The youngster, still only 15 years old, played against grown men and made them look like amateurs at times when he got on the ball.
Dowman humiliated Joelinton when Arsenal beat Newcastle in Singapore, and everyone has been raving about him since.
Former Arsenal star Perry Groves compared Dowman to Lionel Messi recently, and Crouch has done the same now.
Speaking on TNT Sports, when asked to name the one youngster to keep an eye on this season, the former Tottenham striker said: “Breakout star? I just love what Arsenal have done with the youth players coming through there.
“Max Dowman is someone who has been on everyone’s lips. He’s certainly someone who, in pre-season, looks like, we know he’s going to be a player. We know it. It’s just when?
“I’ve seen a little bit of him, and he’s playing like – obviously this is a ridiculous statement – but the way he plays is like [Lionel] Messi.”
“Literally, coming inside, going past players at ease. Obviously, he’s not there yet, but he’s got all the attributes to be anything he wants to be.
“I think [Ethan] Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, I mean, he’s an older statesman now, but those players coming through at Arsenal for me are the ones to watch.”
READ MORE: Ray Parlour claims Max Dowman is going to be exactly like £85m Man City star for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta needs to protect Max Dowman at Arsenal
Arsenal fans will love to see people comparing Dowman to greats like Lionel Messi, but that should not get into his head.
The youngster is still only 15 and has a long way to go. He needs to stay grounded at all times, and the last thing he needs is extreme pressure from the outside.
Arteta is right to give Dowman a break now, and once he is back, he should be eased into the team – even though he has shown that he is good enough to play regularly.
The Arsenal manager has handled the development of Bukayo Saka, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri perfectly over the years.
We’re sure he will also get it right with Dowman, who could prove to be the biggest talent of them all.
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