“If you looked at his passport every day, you would never play with him, as simple as that,” Arteta noted earlier this season. “But when you look at what he does in practice, you have to play with him. If you don’t, you’re blind.” The Arsenal manager’s praise carries weight following Friday’s announcement that Dowman has signed a pre-contract agreement guaranteeing his path from scholarship terms to a professional deal in December on his 17th birthday. The Hale End graduate becomes a scholar this summer before formally turning professional on December 31. Dowman expressed his commitment to the club where he has been developing for eight years. “This means everything to me and my family,” Dowman said. “We all support Arsenal and I really feel like I belong here. I would like to thank all my coaches, team-mates and most importantly my family and friends who have brought me to where I am today.” The attacking midfielder has already etched his name into Arsenal’s record book. Aged 15 years and 235 days, he made his debut in August’s win against Leeds as the second-youngest player for Premier League history Two months later, he became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter at 15 years and 302 days against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. Its European impact was equally historic. Dowman became the youngest player to feature in the Champions League at 15 years and 308 days in November’s win over Slavia Prague. The England youth international has contributed 27 goals and 10 assists in 34 academy appearances. Dowman emphasized the importance of club models in his decision. “I’ve been at the club my whole life so this really means a lot,” he explained. “There is such a clear path here, players who have come through our academy, like Bukayo, Myles and Ethan, who really inspire me. It’s amazing to have role models so close who have experienced the same thing as me.” The wonderkid is currently nursing an ankle injury he picked up in December. The title has been missed by Arsenal, which sees the Gunners top the Premier League table with 50 points from 23 games. The club also secured safe passage to the last 16 of the Champions League with a perfect group stage record. Arteta previously revealed how the senior players initially tested the teenager’s determination. “At first, they immediately responded: kick him!” Arteta recalled. “That was the first one. And Max, to be fair, was excellent, he got up and got on the next one.” Arsenal’s youth pipeline continues to bring talent to the first team along with the Dowman deal. Seventeen-year-old defender Josiah King and 18-year-old midfielder Ife Ibrahim have also signed professional contracts this week, with Ibrahim already making his debut against Kairat Almaty. Dowman faces a race against time to qualify for a potential Premier League winner’s medal. He needs three more La Liga appearances to reach the five-match threshold. “You just want to hug him, help him,” added Arteta. “He’s also a really nice guy and everyone likes him a lot.”
