Arteta salutes ‘unbelievable’ Dowman after Arsenal’s teen star sinks Ipswich

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised 16-year-old Max Dowman after the teenager's impressive performance in Arsenal's 4-2 League Cup victory over Ipswich. Arteta gave Dowman his first appearance of the season, and the young playmaker scored two goals and provided an assist in the third-round tie at Portman Road. Despite being compared to Lionel Messi by Arteta last season, Dowman had only started 13 times and had been an unused substitute several times this term.

Arteta cautioned that Dowman would have to earn his minutes like any other player, as Arsenal has a wealth of experienced players. However, he admitted that Dowman had delivered an 'unbelievable' performance against Ipswich, describing him as 'unpredictable,' 'fluid,' and 'a pleasure to watch.' Dowman had last played for Arsenal in the final game of last season, when the team were already champions, after completing his GCSE exams.

Arteta emphasized the importance of nurturing Dowman's potential, acknowledging that many teenage stars fail to reach their full potential in the Premier League. The young midfielder is determined to help Dowman develop and look after him in the club's current environment. With Dowman waiting in the wings, Arsenal will face Brighton in their next match on Saturday, having won all six of their games so far this season.