Dowman makes Arsenal history with record-breaking first start

By Martin Graham

At just 15 years and 302 days old, Max Dowman added his name to Arsenal’s history once again — this time as the youngest ever player to start a competitive match for the club. The teenage winger featured prominently in Arsenal’s EFL Cup victory over Brighton, showing poise and confidence beyond his years.

Dowman had already turned heads earlier this season when he became the second-youngest player to appear for Arsenal, and the second-youngest in Premier League history, during August’s 5-0 win over Leeds United. His rapid rise has been closely followed inside the club, where excitement around his potential has been building since he joined first-team training at the age of 14.

Mikel Arteta, who made ten changes to his starting lineup for the Brighton match, placed his trust in a youthful side that included four teenagers. Among them were Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous, both handed their first full starts in senior competition.

Calm confidence and natural flair

Arteta described Dowman’s reaction to his selection as understated but characteristic of the youngster’s calm personality. “A tiny smile, that’s what you get with him,” the Arsenal manager said. “For him, everything feels natural. He just goes out there and plays with courage and determination.”

That composure translated onto the pitch. Dowman impressed with his dribbling and creativity, completing more take-ons, winning more fouls, and succeeding in more duels than any other player in the game. One dazzling run past Brighton’s Diego Gomez drew cheers from the Emirates crowd and underlined why Arsenal staff view him as a special talent.

Arteta said the opportunity to hand debuts to players like Dowman and Harriman-Annous was deeply rewarding. “Giving someone that chance to live their dream is unique,” he noted. “I’m delighted it came in a match where we also got the result we wanted.”

Managing the next step carefully

Dowman’s progress could soon lead him onto the European stage. If he features in the Champions League before his 16th birthday later this year, he would become the youngest player ever to appear in the competition. Arteta, however, emphasized the importance of managing expectations.

“There’s a lot happening for him right now,” the manager said. “He believes he’s ready for everything — and that’s great — but we have to make sure he takes the right steps. Things are moving fast, and it’s our job to help him handle it properly.”

The Arsenal boss added that the club will continue to support the teenager’s development both on and off the field. “We want him to keep progressing in the right way but also to be protected,” Arteta explained.

A night for Arsenal’s academy to remember

It wasn’t just Dowman who shone on a memorable night for the club’s academy. Harriman-Annous, aged 17, played a vital part in Arsenal’s second goal, while 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri — both graduates of the Hale End system — combined beautifully for the opener.

Arteta praised the contributions of the young group, highlighting how their performances reflected the club’s long-term investment in youth development. “I’m very pleased with all of them — Max, Andre, Myles, Ethan — and seeing Bukayo [Saka] score too makes it even more special,” he said. “Two academy players scoring and others contributing to take us into the quarter-finals — it was a really emotional night.”