Arteta Backs Max Dowman After Lionel Messi Endorsement

Mikel Arteta has welcomed Lionel Messi’s endorsement of Max Dowman, backing the Arsenal teenager to handle the growing attention after the Inter Miami forward named him among 10 young players tipped for a major future.

Messi included Dowman in an Adidas promotional campaign, putting the 16-year-old midfielder in a select group of emerging talents. Arteta said the praise carries weight given the identity of the man delivering it.

“If Messi, the greatest player ever, says that, then his eye is probably better than anybody’s,” Arteta said. “Hopefully he is right.”

Quick facts

Messi selected Dowman among 10 young players he believes can reach the top.
The Arsenal midfielder is 16 and came through the club’s Hale End academy.
Dowman made his competitive Arsenal debut aged 15.
He became the youngest player to appear in the Champions League and later the Premier League’s youngest-ever scorer.
He scored twice in Arsenal’s recent Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town.
Arsenal face Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Arteta sees the recognition as a reward for Dowman’s work through the academy, but Arsenal are also alert to the pressure that can follow such a high-profile recommendation. The manager wants the teenager’s development to remain the priority.

Asked what may have caught Messi’s attention, Arteta’s answer was simple: “He has something special.”

The Arsenal boss pointed to Dowman’s early senior displays as evidence of his unusual talent. Arteta praised the way he moves, receives and carries the ball, as well as the composure he has shown despite regularly facing older opponents.

“In the appearances he has had, he has already done remarkable things,” Arteta said. “He is someone with a special gift. He is a joy to watch. The way he moves, touches the ball and carries himself is different. That is what makes him unique.”

Dowman’s rise has accelerated over the past year, with his record-breaking debut season followed by a sharper contribution in the current campaign. His two goals against Ipswich underlined his finishing ability as well as his technical promise.

What happens next: Dowman is expected to be in Arsenal’s matchday group for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Lille. Arteta has shown he will use young players in major games when they demonstrate the right mentality in training, leaving Dowman as a possible option from the bench.