Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman has become the youngest player ever to score in a UEFA Youth League game. Dowman — aged 14 years, eight months, and 19 days — scored Arsenal Under-18s’ only goal in a 4-1 defeat to their Atalanta counterparts to become the competition’s youngest goalscorer since its inception in 2013.
Born on December 31, 2009, Dowman made his debut for Arsenal U18s in September 2023, aged 13. He made seven domestic youth league appearances last season, including a game against Fulham in which he provided four assists. The attacking midfielder has been a regular fixture for Jack Wilshere’s side this season despite being significantly younger than his team-mates. He made his debut for the England Under-17s in September and scored in a 5-0 victory over Mexico.
Wilshere told club media in March: “There’s always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you’re good enough you’re old enough. He (Dowman) can be more consistent but he’s only 14 and hasn’t even started his GCSEs yet. We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.”
Fellow teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest-ever Premier League player after making his debut for Arsenal at the age of 15 during the 2022-23 campaign. The now 17-year-old has made three first-team appearances for the club since then, including being a late substitute in his side’s north London derby victory on Sunday.
Dowman's Rise Through the Ranks
Max Dowman is a remarkably gifted prospect within the Arsenal youth system. He is on an accelerated pathway for both club and country, often playing several years above his own age group for both. Dowman has a well developed physique and size which enables him to express himself in more advanced football circles, but it is his natural technique and vision which is his greatest asset. He dribbles and surges past opponents, and has an extraordinary range of final pass and finish at his disposal. Arsenal are keen to advance and nurture him in equal measure.
Arsenal's Youth League Campaign Begins
Our under-19s will kick off their UEFA Youth League campaign with an exciting trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta on Thursday, September 19 at Stadio Comunale. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30pm (UK time). The under-19 UEFA Youth League schedule mirrors that of our senior side, meaning we’ll face Atalanta, Sporting, Inter, and Girona away, while hosting PSG, Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb, and Shakhtar Donetsk at home. Last season, we bowed out at the group stage, so we’ll be eager to make a deeper run in the competition this time around.
A Look at Atalanta
Atalanta’s U19 side is primarily made up of players from their Primavera (U20s) squad, which competes in the Campionato Primavera 1. The U20s currently sit 11th in the league, with 5 points from four games. However, they enter this fixture on a high after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Sampdoria U20s last Sunday. Historically, Atalanta’s Primavera side has had success, finishing 4th last season and winning back-to-back titles in 2018/19 and 2019/20. In terms of their UEFA Youth League experience, Atalanta has qualified three times previously. Their best performance came in the 2019/20 season, where they topped their group and reached the round of 16 before being knocked out by Lyon on penalties. The 2020/21 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021/22, they exited at the group stage.
The Next Chapter for Dowman
Dowman will be aiming to extend his positive form in the UEFA Youth League when they next take on French giants Paris Saint-Germain in just under a fortnight’s time. Arsenal’s senior side being their Champions League campaign against Atalanta on Thursday night. They travel to Bergamo to take on Atalanta without injured midfielders Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, but boosted by the return of Declan Rice, who was suspended for the win over Tottenham.
The Young Guns Are Rising
Arsenal’s Hale End academy is back producing, this time in record fashion. The junior Gunners faced Atalanta in the UEFA Youth League in a fixture corresponding to the senior side’s Champions League match up. The game at the Venue Stadio Comunale in Bergamo took place at lunch time, and starlet Max Dowman made history. Scoring Arsenal’s only goal of the match, the midfielder did so at the age of 14 years, eight months and 19 days, a new record as the youngest player to find the back of the net in the competition’s history.
The English talent takes the record from Nice loanee Youssoufa Moukoko, who is the only other 14-year-old on the list thanks to his effort for Borussia Dortmund’s youth side. Another familiar name is that of Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, who’s listed sixth having scored for Ajax at the age of 15 years, four months and ten days. Dowman is now out ahead, though, and he’s already on the radar of the club and supporters. He’d already been playing above his age group for the under-15s, and has since been called up to Jack Wilshere’s under-18 squad.
Recently commenting on the young talent, Wilshere said: “He can be more consistent but he’s only 14 and hasn’t even started his GCSEs yet. We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy the game because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can. Hopefully, we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team he’ll be more ready.” For the U18s, he already has a goal and two assists in four matches across the U18 Premier League and Cup. Wearing the no.10 shirt, he recently scored a glorious goal with his weaker foot that will have drawn plenty of attention.
Despite Dowman likely stealing the headlines with his record breaking Youth League goal, it did in fact come in an Atalanta victory, with the Italians winning 4-1. Mikel Arteta’s senior side will then face off against Gian Piero Gasperini’s equivalent later in the day. The 2024 Europa League winners may present a problem for the Gunners, who recently announced that captain Martin Odegaard is set to be out for an extended period. That has opened up space in their midfield, which could have benefits for Dowman. Another beneficiary may also be Ethan Nwaneri, who became the club’s youngest-ever first team player in 2022 at 15 years and 181 days. Nwaneri, now 17, has three first team appearances to his name, with his last outing against Tottenham in the north London derby. Nwaneri came off the bench to replace another academy graduate, Bukayo Saka, a man he and Dowman will be dreaming of replicating in the coming years.
