Last August, Max Dowman made his senior debut for Arsenal, coming on as a substitute in a Premier League match against Leeds United. At the time, he was 15 years and 235 days old, which made him the second-youngest player in Arsenal or Premier League history (via ESPN).
Dowman one-upped himself by becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter in first-team history in October.
“The most exciting thing about Arsenal is a kid they found themselves — that they created themselves,” Men In Blazers’ Rory Smith said last August. “This 15-year-old phenom who looks completely at home in the Premier League immediately.”
Dowman showed just how comfortable he is at the highest level on Saturday.
He subbed onto the pitch in the 74th minute in a 0-0 match against Everton at Arsenal’s home Emirates Stadium in London. Viktor Gyökeres put the Gunners up 1-0 in the 89th minute, and Dowman sealed the victory with a brilliant coast-to-coast solo goal in stoppage time.
In doing so, Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at 16 years, 73 days old.
After the match, Gyökeres told Sky Sports that Dowman is an “amazing player,” while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called the moment “magical.”
“It’s not only the goal that he scored, I think he changed the game,” Arteta said. ” Every time he got the ball, his speed of the game, he makes things happen. It looked like we were more of a threat. So, to do that at that age, in this context, with the pressure [and] expectations to win the game, it’s just not normal.”
The thrilling win extended Arsenal’s lead to 10 points over Manchester City at the top of the EPL table. If the Gunners can finish, it would mark their first Premier League title since 2004, five years before Dowman was born.