Mikel Arteta salutes 'unbelievable' Max Dowman after Arsenal's teen star sinks Ipswich Town

Mikel Arteta praised the exceptional performance of Arsenal's teenage prodigy, Max Dowman, after the 16-year-old scored twice and provided an assist in a resounding 4-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the League Cup third round tie at Portman Road on Tuesday. The Gunners manager had previously compared Dowman to football legend Lionel Messi, recognizing the young playmaker's impressive talent as he burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old last season.

Arteta has been cautious in his use of Dowman, cautioning that the youngster must earn his minutes like any other player. However, Arteta was compelled to acknowledge Dowman's masterclass against Ipswich, describing the sensation as "unbelievable," "unpredictable," and "fluid." The young Gunner had previously played in the final game of last season's campaign against Crystal Palace, only to see Arsenal crowned champions.

Dowman has recently completed his GCSE exams and remains optimistic about his bright future with Arsenal. Arteta emphasized his commitment to nurturing Dowman's potential, stating that the club wants to develop and protect the young talent. As Arsenal prepares to face Brighton on Saturday in their last game before the international break, the team has maintained an impressive record of six wins across all competitions so far this season.