max dowman
Former Arsenal academy coach Jack Wilshere, now managing at Luton Town, has shared insights into the promising career of 15-year-old Max Dowman. Wilshere, who previously coached Dowman at Arsenal’s renowned Hale End academy, recounted a memorable moment when he introduced the young talent during an under-18s match against Southampton, showcasing the teenager’s exceptional abilities.
Jack Wilshere said: “It’s hard because I don’t want to be the guy who says: ‘he will be this, or that.’ But every challenge he’s had at the moment, I remember playing him for the 18s and he was 13 and we were playing Southampton, a good academy. We were 2-0 up and I remember saying to my assistant: ‘Let’s get Max on the pitch.’ I stood next to him and he was already taller than me! I remember saying to him: ‘Max, remember you are playing against players who are five years older than you which is fine but don’t get into duels, just pop it round and have one or two touches.’ He came on and the first thing he did, he ran around three players, squared it and we scored. I looked at my assistant and I’d never seen this before.”
Wilshere continued: “But the most important thing with Max is he’s a top kid. He’s got a good family. He’s got a mum who is amazing, a dad who would do anything for him and wants the best for his son. It was only six or seven weeks ago before I was here, I went to watch an Arsenal under-19s CL game and Max was playing. His dad was shooting off afterwards and he asked me if I could take him home. I drove him home and it’s hard to remember he’s only 15, he was trying to play Uno with me and I’m so happy for him because he’s a top kid. People say: ‘Is he better than you?’ He is better than me. But what I do see in similarities is his love of the game. I worked with some kids who wouldn’t even watch games but he loves it. He loves the Arsenal, he loves playing for Arsenal.”
Wilshere also drew parallels between his own experiences and Dowman’s current journey, highlighting the influence of role models in their development. While Wilshere had Cesc Fabregas and John Terry as mentors, Dowman has the opportunity to learn from Declan Rice at Arsenal.
Wilshere added: “What better role model for him to be with every day than Dec. It was Cesc for me. It was different then because we didn’t have an older leader. I went to England and John Terry was amazing for me, coaching me through every minute of the game. Cesc led by example, had little chats and helped me because he was a role model for me with the way he played, behaved and he was 16, I was 12 and he was in the first team.”
As Arsenal continues to thrive under Mikel Arteta, the club is not only excelling in the Premier League but also making strides in the Champions League and Carabao Cup. With the Gunners aiming for silverware, the future looks promising for both the club and its emerging talents like Max Dowman. Arsenal fans can look forward to a season filled with excitement, as the club navigates potential challenges and celebrates its unsung heroes.
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