Arsenal are set to renew their rivalry with Liverpool this season in their quest for the Premier League title.
Arne Slot’s side cruised to the league title last season with a ten point margin of victory and the Gunners will be desperate to take their revenge.
Mikel Arteta has added six new signings to his squad so far this pre-season in an attempt to plug the gap that built between the two sides.
Both teams have had relatively solid pre-season campaigns so far, mirrored by the emergence of some exceptional young talent coming through their ranks.
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The emergence of Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha could drive Max Dowman to improve at Arsenal
Are we about the witness another footballing rivalry in the mould of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? It may be a tad early to make those comparisons, but Rio Ngumoha and Max Dowman have certainly got the footballing world talking this pre-season.
Dowman has stunned fans and pundits for his performances during Arsenal’s tour to Asia and there are already calls for him to be involved in Arteta’s squad on a regular basis.
Liverpool have got their own star coming through in Ngumoha, who scored and assisted during their pre-season win over Athletic Bilbao.
Ngumoha has been described as a ‘generational talent’ as per the Independent and could now become a benchmark for Dowman to really kick on and develop this season.
The young duo could be good for each other in a sense that if one breaks into the first-team this season, the other will strive to do the same given the talent that they both clearly possess.
Dowman expressed his positive feelings towards Ngumoha in an Instagram story that showed the Liverpool youngster scoring with the caption of ‘The coldest’.
Max Dowman has good people around him at Arsenal
Arsenal are in talks over a new contract with Dowman and although it is good to be driven by outside rivalries in football, the Hale End product also has a lot of good people around him at Arsenal.
Arsenal are not rushing Dowman into first-team action given that he still has lots of time to develop both physically and mentally.
Declan Rice has put an arm around his shoulder upon his entrance to first-team training this summer and alongside the coaching staff at the club, they will help keep the 15-year-old grounded and focused.
It is important for both the club and the player that he is allowed to develop in his own time and is not rushed into taking on too much responsibility too soon.
There is an obvious excitement about young talents such as Dowman and Ngumoha but football has a job to protect these players until they are ready to be thrust into the spotlight.
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