Max Dowman has become something of a star at Arsenal at the age of just 16, but the path to the top is a long and winding one.
Max Dowman looks a top talent, but, at the moment, he’s still very much an unproven player who needs to continue improving.
Of course, when you’re being touted for a World Cup spot at the age of just 16, it can be easy to believe your own hype and take your foot off the gas.
However, Arsenal may be set to make a decision that ensures Dowman will remain focused and understand exactly what is at stake.
Indeed, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could both be sold by Arsenal.
If you could set Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly’s price tags, how much would you demand?
Selling Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could help Max Dowman focus
It would be a bold move if Arsenal sold Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri this summer. Both are seen as top academy talents. But it could send an important message to Max Dowman – nothing is guaranteed.
Dowman is one of the most exciting young players at the club. Like Nwaneri before him, he has already made headlines at a very young age. There is a lot of hype around him. But Arsenal cannot allow that to turn into comfort.
If Arsenal are willing to move on from players like Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, it tells Dowman that talent alone is not enough. You have to keep improving. You have to keep proving yourself. Otherwise, the club will move on.
The Nwaneri situation is perhaps the most pertinent here.
At one point, he was the youngest player in Premier League history. That alone put him in the spotlight. It suggested he had a clear path into the first team. But now, at 19, he could be sold – that tells you everything.
Progress is not always straight. Early breakthroughs do not guarantee long-term success. Arsenal are building a team to compete at the top level. They cannot afford to have any players who aren’t at the level, even if those players come from the academy.
Dowman should be watching this closely.
He might be seen as the next big thing, but that status can change quickly. If he slows down or stops developing, he could face the same outcome. That pressure is not a bad thing. It is part of being at a top club.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta have raised the level across the squad. Young players are given chances, but only if they earn them. There is no space to stand still. Every player has to keep pushing.
Selling academy talents would reinforce that idea.
For Dowman, it would be a clear signal. Keep progressing or risk being left behind. It might seem harsh, but it is how elite teams operate.
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