Max Dowman made his Premier League debut at 15 years and 234 days, becoming the second-youngest player to represent Arsenal and in the Premier League. He has trained with the first-team squad since age 14 and traveled on the club's warm-weather training camp to Dubai at 14. Arsenal have implemented safeguarding and career-progression measures including designated changing arrangements, a strong focus on his education, and structured support from team-mates. A security staff member is assigned to stay close to him when the squad travels and when arriving at the Emirates Stadium. Manager Mikel Arteta has monitored Dowman's reactions to being on the bench, training, and non-selection. Dowman previously became the youngest scorer at the European Under-17 Championship.
Max Dowman is old enough to play in the Premier League - but not to get changed with his team-mates. The winger continued to show why he is one of the top-rated young players in the country when he made his Premier League debut at 15 years and 234 days on Saturday against Leeds United. The appearance made him the second-youngest player to represent the club and the second-youngest to play in the Premier League - with team-mate Ethan Nwaneri holding both records.
Having a player with so much promise competing in senior football means Arsenal have put measures in place both for his career progression and his safeguarding. These include where he gets changed, a strong focus on his education and also making sure that a boy in an adult team environment is well supported by his team-mates. Manager Mikel Arteta and the club have been cautious about how they manage Dowman's progress.
Arteta said after his debut against Leeds that they have been gathering information about how he reacts to certain situations, whether that is being on the bench, training with the first team or not being named in the squad at all. One of the first big signs of his integration was Dowman being taken on the team's warm-weather training camp to Dubai in January aged just 14.
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