"Very proud of him, very proud as well of Marli. Obviously, two 16-year-olds starting in the FA Cup. That tells us a lot about them, their personality and the quality that they have. And Max, I think he was exceptional."
"When the ball is bouncing all over the place and you have people in your back, the way he handles time and space and the touches that he takes, it's just incredible. Especially at the speed that he delivers those actions. But that tells you the talent that we have."
Dowman returned to first-team action after three months out with an ankle injury, starting in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Mansfield. The 16-year-old was Arsenal's standout performer in the first half, leading in duels won, dribbles attempted, and touches in the opposition box. He nearly scored in the second half with a well-executed piece of skill. Manager Arteta praised both Dowman and fellow teenager Marli Salmon for their composure and quality. Arteta highlighted Dowman's exceptional ability to handle difficult playing conditions, managing time and space effectively despite the poor pitch surface. Arsenal employed an unusual back-three formation that was later adjusted due to injuries and squad rotation needs rather than tactical experimentation.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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