Jack Wilshere hails promising Arsenal teen, 13, after call-up to under-18s

25 September 2023 , 17:13

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13-year-old Max Dowman made his debut for Arsenal's under-18s at the weekend (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal hero Jack Wilshere was full of praise for young prospect Max Dowman after handing him a debut for the club's under-18s at the age of just 13.

Dowman came off the bench as Arsenal beat Southampton 4-0 over the weekend, with head coach Wilshere stating the youngster "deserves this chance". Speaking after the win, Wilshere told club media : "We take a holistic view of the academy, pushing our players to excel.

"Debut opportunities aren't handed out lightly, and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance. There are others on the verge of stepping up as well.

"He handled the moment admirably, sending an important message to the team that when we introduce players, they possess the quality to contribute effectively." Arsenal made history last season when Mikel Arteta handed Ethan Nwaneri his first-team debut against Brentford aged just 15, making him the youngest player in Premier League history.

And Dowman was not the only youngster to impress against Southampton, with 15-year-old Danish striker Chido Obi netting a hat-trick. The goals were his first at under-18s level and Wilshere believes he has "immense potential" and "much more to offer" Arsenal.

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"Chido was exceptional today; this has been building up in him," he added. "Today was the day he truly arrived at the under-18s level. He showcased to me, the coaches, and the staff what he's capable of, and we're eager to see more of that.

"His pressing and link-up play was notably improved, and he possesses immense potential with much more to offer. This win was well-deserved. We fielded a very youthful squad today, and there were moments where we faced challenges, but I believe we handled them admirably.

Under-18s boss Jack Wilshere was full of praise for Dowman (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"Scoring the opening goal was crucial in a match like this, and we displayed a higher level of quality in the final third compared to previous weeks, and that's what earned us the victory."

Louis Zecevic-John, also 15, scored the only other goal in the game as Arsenal gear up to take on Chelsea in their next under-18s Premier League match on Saturday. "This is the perfect way to prepare for a game like Chelsea," Wilshere continued.

"It's a derby, and it will be a test as we play away from home, requiring some adjustments. However, when you score four goals one week, you expect the team to approach the next game with confidence, creating and converting chances."

Matthew Cooper