Arsenal news: 'He looks unbelievable' — Ryan Giggs reveals surprise at Arsenal midfielder's personality

In an effort to overtake Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Arsenal placed their bets connected a semipermanent project.

Beyond signings, the Gunners person besides fixed their academy gems the abstraction to radiance among the archetypal team. One of those presently seeking playing clip nether Mikel Arteta is Max Dowman, who has already near Ryan Giggs impressed.

Ryan Giggs connected the infinitesimal Max Dowman archetypal caught his eye

Speaking connected Rio Ferdinand's podcast, the erstwhile Manchester United subordinate recalled the archetypal clip helium saw the 16-year-old midfielder successful action, backmost successful February 2025.

At the time, Dowman was 1 of Arsenal's standout performers successful the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup (the Under-18 mentation of the FA Cup).

Despite Arsenal's elimination astatine the hands of the Red Devils, the young endowment shone aft producing a solo run, cutting successful from the close towards the punishment area. Max Dowman was fouled for a punishment and, contempt being conscionable 15 astatine the time, demanded the shot to instrumentality it himself, catching Giggs' attention.

"He won the punishment and past took it against players 2 years older than him. That didn't hap erstwhile I was successful my younker team. That's erstwhile I called Albert (Stuivenberg, Arsenal's adjunct coach) and asked: 'who is this Max Dowman? He looks unbelievable.' 'He's a peculiar player,' was each helium said," the Welshman recalled.

Max Dowman's accelerated emergence done the Arsenal academy

Capable of operating successful a deeper role, arsenic a fig 10, oregon retired wide connected either flank, the Englishman joined Arsenal astatine conscionable 5 years old, successful 2015.

His emergence has been rapid, with Dowman already holding respective records for precocity: helium made his debut for the Gunners' Under-18 broadside astatine 13, and the pursuing year, aged conscionable 14, became the youngest subordinate ever to people successful the UEFA Youth League (the Under-19 Champions League).

It is nary surprise, then, that the midfielder is already being intimately monitored by the Spanish manager, who has adopted a cautious attack to his integration.

As FIFA regulations prohibit players from signing nonrecreational contracts earlier turning 17, Max Dowman remains tied to Arsenal nether a assistance statement (also known arsenic a schoolboy contract) until astatine slightest December 31.

The fig 56 made his first-team debut during the 2025-26 season, going connected to marque 11 appearances crossed the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. As good arsenic becoming the league's youngest ever debutant, helium besides became the youngest subordinate to people a goal, netting against Everton successful March.

Dowman remains portion of Arteta's first-team squad astatine Arsenal, portion besides gaining minutes with the Under-21s, aimed astatine helping him header with the fierce contention successful midfield and attack.

He is expected to gain further opportunities arsenic the 2026-27 play progresses, having truthful acold not been introduced from the bench.