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Arteta compares Arsenal wonderkid Dowman to Messi: I’ve seen this before in Barcelona
Robin Bairner
- 30 Jan 2026 13:46 GMT
- 3 min read
News
Arsenal announced that Max Dowman has an agreement with the club to sign his first professional contract, and manager Mikel Arteta has reacted by comparing the 16-year-old to Lionel Messi.
Dowman has broken numerous records with the Gunners, becoming their youngest ever starter and the youngest ever Champions League player, achieving both before he turned 16.
He has agreed to turn pro with Arsenal when he turns 17 in December in a deal he says “means everything” to him.
STATS
Max Dowman
F (R), M (C)
Arsenal
Max Dowman
F (R), M (C)
Arsenal
Arteta on Dowman’s quality and mentality
Arteta, whose career as a player took him to Barcelona, PSG and Everton among others, says that he has only seen the type of talent that Dowman possesses once before: in a certain Messi.
“What he’s done with us at the age of 15, me personally, I’ve not seen it before. Only with a guy that used to play with Barcelona, and maybe not even that,” Arteta told the media.
“Not only that, he’s got a certain charisma and personality that, he doesn’t get overwhelmed, whether it’s by the situation or the opposition or the stadium. And that’s a huge quality to have.
“The fact that we have very good examples at the club, that’s very helpful. But it’s not only the players, it’s his family as well. They’re in a crucial part of their education and development and obviously we are very responsible for that. He’s been great. He’s got a very good family and I think they trust what we want to do with him.
“Now it’s down to him and us to have an amazing career with him.”
Dowman has been suffering from an ankle injury, which has prevented him from adding to his five Arsenal appearances.
Once fit again, he is likely to be brought back into the first team fold, particularly with fellow academy product Ethan Nwaneri having been loaned out to Marseille.
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