Online Reporter
MAX DOWMAN has become the youngster goalscorer in Premier League history after his dramatic late strike against Everton.
The bussing 16-year-old superstar has been tipped for big things at the Emirates after emerging as one of the club’s biggest talent in years.
Dowman has already become a part of Mikel Arteta‘s first team group this season after playing seven times in all competitions.
And he showed off his huge promise by getting on the scoresheet late on to wrap up a 2-0 win against the Toffees.
The teenager nipped in on a loose ball before driving 70 yards and rolling the ball into an empty net after Jordan Pickford had gone up for a late corner.
The goal sparked bedlam on the bench and in the stands as team-mates rushed to meet him in the corner.
Arsenal now, arguably, have one hand on the title with seven games remaining.
The Gunners are now NINE points ahead of Man City, having played a game more, after Pep Guardiola’s team could only draw against West Ham on Saturday night.
Dowman’s strike will also go down in the record books after he overtook James Vaughan as the youngest scorer in the top flight.
Vaughan was 16 years and 270 days old when he struck against Crystal Palace in April 2005.
And Dowman’s record will now take some beating at the age of 16 years and 73 days.
Dowman and Vaughan are the top two names on the list, while James Milner is in third after his goal against Sunderland in 2002 aged 16 years and 356 days.
Perhaps the most famous goal on the list is Wayne Rooney‘s against Everton in 2002 aged 16 years and 360 days. He’s in fourth.
Liverpool sensation Rio Ngumoha recently entered the top five after he scored a dramatic winner in a 3-2 win over Newcastle last August at 16 years and 361 days.
And Dowman’s Arsenal team-mate Ethan Nwaneri also joined the group of young scorers after his strike against Nottingham Forest in 2024 aged 17 years and 247 days.
Dowman’s boss Arteta hailed his “incredible” moment and said he had no issues about bringing him on despite his tender age.
The Spaniard said in his press conference: “[Friday] he was training in the last few days and I had a gut feeling that it was a moment for him.
“Probably because he doesn’t seem to be fazed by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent.
“He just plays so naturally. He makes decisions to make things happen and what he delivered was incredible.
“For many years, people that were in the stadium today will say, ‘I was in the stadium, I was at the Emirates that day, when that kid, at 16, scored that goal in such an important moment of the season’.
“It’s not only the goal that he scored. I think he changed the game. Every time he got the ball, he made things happen.
“It looked like we were more of a threat. To do that at that age, in this context, with this pressure, it is just not normal.”
Dowman’s goal came just minutes after Viktor Gyokeres had put the Gunners ahead with a simple tap-in after Jordan Pickford’s mistake.
Dowman has been with Arsenal since joining their academy at the age of eight. — The Sun
