Arsenal's Young Talents Stealing the Spotlight

This summer, Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta has been busy bolstering the squad with six new signings, including striker Viktor Gyokeres, to enhance their Premier League title aspirations. However, it's the young academy players who have truly captured the attention during the pre-season tour of Asia.

Max Dowman: A Star in the Making

Max Dowman, a 15-year-old attacking midfielder, has been turning heads with his performances in friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle. Dowman, who first trained with the first team at the age of 14, was part of the senior squad that traveled to Dubai for their winter training camp in January. His standout moment came in the match against Newcastle, where a delightful dribble into the area resulted in a foul by Joelinton, leading to a penalty that secured a 3-2 victory for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta praised Dowman's performance, stating, "It is special. What he's done today against this team in the time that he had on the pitch is something certainly not common to witness for a 15-year-old."

Marli Salmon: A Promising Defender

Another young talent making waves is Marli Salmon, a 15-year-old England Under-16 international defender. Salmon, along with Dowman, has been impressing on the tour, showcasing the depth of talent within Arsenal's academy.

Guidance from Experienced Players

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who joined Real Madrid at 16, has expressed his willingness to mentor the young players. "I think the whole squad is really good in this way to help the young players," Odegaard said. "I just try to share my experience, guide them in the right direction, help them to keep the right mindset, because you can see that the quality is obviously there."

Future Prospects

Dowman, who represented England Under-17s in the Euros, became the competition's youngest scorer with a goal against the Czech Republic. At Arsenal, he is playing three years above his age group, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists in 23 games last season. Declan Rice has called him an "unreal talent," and Dowman aims to follow in the footsteps of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, both 18, into the first team.

Arsenal's young talents are not just the future; they are making their mark in the present, promising an exciting season ahead for the Gunners.