Max Dowman is a mercurial talent who made a mockery of Ipswich players older than him during Arsenal's 4-2 win - at 16, he is a promising English advertisement to talented youths like JJ Gabriel, writes ISAAN KHAN

· DailyMail

ISAAN KHAN AT PORTMAN ROAD: In the red half of Manchester, a 15-year-old child in JJ Gabriel is trying to force a way out of his club.

In the red half of Manchester, a 15-year-old child in JJ Gabriel is trying to force a way out of his club.

It's a markedly different story in the red portion of London, Max Dowman, 16, lighting up Portman Road to further bolster his case of regularly breaking into the Arsenal first team.

That is not a given, for the likes of World Cup winners Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi have yet to start in the Premier League this season, for example. Yet, Dowman is a mercurial talent, one who we'll see plenty of in the months ahead.

Having intercepted the ball in midfield, the teenager played a one-two pass with Eberechi Eze before sprightly running towards the box.

Ipswich Town 's Cedric Kipre tried, and failed, to tackle the youngster while back-pedalling, before hitting the deck. Dowman reached the area before powerfully striking past goalkeeper Christian Walton on seven minutes with his weaker right foot.

The way he had embarrassed a burly 6ft 3in defender 13 years older than himself reflected what Dowman has done in his short senior career thus far: make a mockery of those much older than he.

The attacker, playing in the No 10 role, wasn't done there. Two minutes into the second period, Zubimendi's prodded pass found the teenager into the area, who softly curled the ball home for a second goal.

Amid these strikes, he constantly looked for through balls and, in a big improvement from last season, tracked back to help his team out in defence. So, a mature performance all round.

Mikel Arteta was left purring over Dowman. He said: 'That's something very natural for him, and he can deliver those actions effortlessly. That's his biggest quality.

> 'He's an unbelievable player because of the character that he has and how much he loves to play at the biggest stage and still handle the situation with such naturality.

> 'At 16 to already do what he does, it's just incredible.'

It was also a promising advertisement to talented youths across the country - like Gabriel. Despite Arsenal's strength in depth as reigning Premier League champions, there is still a pathway for youngsters to breakthrough.

Dowman wasn't the only example here, Marli Salmon, 17, starting at centre back. He occasionally strayed out of position, but looked comfortable on the ball and played some solid attacking passes. He did his prospects no harm in his display, either, in a line-up involving four teenagers, including Myles Lewis-Skelly, 19, and later substitute Theo Julienne, 18.

Arteta opted to start Bukayo Saka and bring Declan Rice off the bench in the Carabao Cup third round against Port Vale last season. This time around, he had Saka on the bench and Rice at home.

After the insane workloads both players endured previously, Arteta seems to have learned his lesson, a positive step in the right direction.

A quirky defence featured midfielder Zubimendi at right back, while Viktor Gyokeres was given a chance up front again after starting against Napoli in the Champions League last week.

A goal up from Dowman's strike, Noni Madueke doubled Arsenal's lead after a crunching Bruno Guimaraes tackle set the ball loose.

It fell to Merino, his chip over the top reaching Madueke. He opened up his body and rifled the ball home with the outside of his left boot.

The shackled were completely off just 16 minutes in, the Gunners' players queuing to try get their names on the scoresheet.

Dowman added Arsenal's third in the second half, before Merino latched onto Zubimendi's pass - which Dowman faintly touched - and struck from outside the area, the ball cannoning in off the left post.

Anis Mehmeti pulled back a consolation goal for Ipswich, with Hale End graduate Chuba Akpom also making the scoresheet in injury time for the home side, though the night belonged to Dowman.

JJ Gabriel would be wise to take note.

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