Arsenal record holder pips Ethan Nwaneri to create club history with appearance for Under-21s
Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has made history by becoming the youngest player to appear for the club at Under-21 level. The current record was previously held by Richie Powling, with first-team star Ethan Nwaneri the youngest in the Premier League 2 era. Dowman is regarded as one of the jewels in Arsenal’s academyGetty He can take inspiration from the likes of Bukayo Saka who also emerged from the academyGetty But now 14-year-old Dowman has etched his name into the history books. The youngster has been in fine form for both the club’s U18 and U19 sides. In September, he became the youngest player in UEFA Youth League history to get on the score sheet – doing so at the age of 14 years, eight months and 19 days against Atalanta. And now his stunning form has seen him rewarded with an appearance for the U21s in Sunday’s Premier League 2 clash with Brighton. He has become the youngest ever player at U21 level or equivalent when he came off the bench in the 1-1 draw against the Seagulls. Aged 14 years and 336 days, Dowman broke Powling’s previous record, while also pipping England youth international Nwaneri. He was 15 when he first featured for the U21s – doing so against Blackburn Rovers in September 2022. Incredibly, despite the historic appearance, Dowman remains too young to play in the FA Youth Cup. Dowman has recently enjoyed training with the first team too, with goalkeepers Tommy Setford, Alexei Rojas and Lucas Nygaard also present. Josh Robinson, Ayden Heaven and Zane Monlouis have also joined in on sessions led by boss Mikel Arteta. Dowman has featured with the Arsenal first team at London Colney this seasonGetty Max Dowman makes history as he becomes Arsenal’s youngest ever player at U21 level or equivalent aged 14 years and 336 days. He breaks the previous record held by Richie Powling. Nwaneri was the previous youngest in the Premier League 2 era. pic.twitter.com/BYDmGziJjt— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) December 1, 2024 Setford made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup fourth round in October when Arsenal beat Preston North End 3-0. While Jack Porter started in goal at the age of 16 in the third round against Bolton. Arsenal’s academy have harvested lots of first team stars throughout the years, not only in recent graduates Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, but also the likes of Liam Brady, Tony Adams, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Bukayo Saka. Other talents like Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, Bayern Munich‘s Serge Gnabry and Newcastle’s Joe Willock also all emerged from the academy in north London. And Dowman will be hoping to become the next to break through into the first team in the near future. Along with his U21 appearance and four UEFA Youth League outings, he has chipped in with two assists in the U18 Premier League.
Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has made history by becoming the youngest player to appear for the club at Under-21 level.
The current record was previously held by Richie Powling, with first-team star Ethan Nwaneri the youngest in the Premier League 2 era.
But now 14-year-old Dowman has etched his name into the history books.
The youngster has been in fine form for both the club’s U18 and U19 sides.
In September, he became the youngest player in UEFA Youth League history to get on the score sheet – doing so at the age of 14 years, eight months and 19 days against Atalanta.
And now his stunning form has seen him rewarded with an appearance for the U21s in Sunday’s Premier League 2 clash with Brighton.
He has become the youngest ever player at U21 level or equivalent when he came off the bench in the 1-1 draw against the Seagulls.
Aged 14 years and 336 days, Dowman broke Powling’s previous record, while also pipping England youth international Nwaneri.
He was 15 when he first featured for the U21s – doing so against Blackburn Rovers in September 2022.
Incredibly, despite the historic appearance, Dowman remains too young to play in the FA Youth Cup.
Dowman has recently enjoyed training with the first team too, with goalkeepers Tommy Setford, Alexei Rojas and Lucas Nygaard also present.
Josh Robinson, Ayden Heaven and Zane Monlouis have also joined in on sessions led by boss Mikel Arteta.
Setford made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup fourth round in October when Arsenal beat Preston North End 3-0.
While Jack Porter started in goal at the age of 16 in the third round against Bolton.
Arsenal’s academy have harvested lots of first team stars throughout the years, not only in recent graduates Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, but also the likes of Liam Brady, Tony Adams, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Bukayo Saka.
Other talents like Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, Bayern Munich‘s Serge Gnabry and Newcastle’s Joe Willock also all emerged from the academy in north London.
And Dowman will be hoping to become the next to break through into the first team in the near future.
Along with his U21 appearance and four UEFA Youth League outings, he has chipped in with two assists in the U18 Premier League.
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