What next for Arsenal prodigy Dowman after latest statement display?

· Sky-PL

Max Dowman has waited patiently for opportunities in Arsenal's first team, but when he gets them, he delivers.

Dowman had to be more precise for his second. Martin Zubimendi's pass deflected off Jacob Greaves's left arm, and Dowman, with little space inside the penalty area, adjusted to the ricochet with two quick touches to set up an accurate, composed shot on his left foot that almost trickled over the line, such was the perfectly measured weight of the effort.

Dowman's performance will only increase the hype around him. How will Arteta manage that?

> "Well, it depends. If he does what he does on the pitch, it's not easy, I understand," said Arteta. "But what we have to do is look after him. He's 16 years old. You don't see that in this league. In other leagues in Europe, that's a totally different context.

> "But in this league, with the demands that the league [has], the players and everything put on you, we really need to make sure every time we throw him in, he's in the right context with the right preparation. That's what we are trying to do."

It wasn't all about the goals at Portman Road. Dowman, who only completed his GCSEs in August, also showed his work rate off the ball, pressing Ipswich into a mistake for Noni Madueke's goal.

> "Defensively, his application, his capacity as well to sustain the actions, is not easy," added Arteta.

> "He's 16 years old, and he can create moments, but to consistently go through the game, every phase, with the demands that we put on them, to be able to do that is extremely difficult. And he's coping better and better and better.

> "He did the action where he regained the ball and won it. In the first goal, he loses his man. And that's the thing that we need to continue to reiterate with him because 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."

The evening wasn't even all about Dowman. Marli Salmon, 17, made only his second start for the first team and impressed at centre-back with an assured performance.

> "Just having two 16-year-olds playing for Arsenal at this level against a Premier League team is so fulfilling," said Arteta. "Because I've been there and just to be able to contribute in somebody's career and dream, to be able to experience a game like tonight is just phenomenal.

> "Medium and long term, we know that if they continue to develop in the way that they are, we're going to have two tremendous footballers for the future."

Dowman has benefited from Arsenal's stability under Arteta. The club has been able to nurture and develop him, without the distraction of cycling through managers. On the same day 15-year-old JJ Gabriel asked to leave Manchester United , Dowman made his latest statement on the pitch.

Arsenal fans will be desperate to see more of him. Arteta has warned it's not so easy to play him regularly.

> "Everything is possible. The probability [of playing regularly] is probably extremely low because you don't see the players with the capacity to handle just the physicality of the game," he said.

> "Not only that, but the demands that you have to put your body through in the week to be able to be in good condition to compete, the amount of information, the challenges that you have to face. But he's doing it and he's doing it really well every time there's a chance."

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