Max Dowman, a history-maker in the Champions League, has thrived under the rising focus on youth and the club’s fast-tracking strategy. Any doubts Mikel Arteta may have had about Dowman’s readiness were quashed during Tuesday night’s game. Dowman, the first 15-year-old to play in the Champions League, replaced Leandro Trossard in the 72nd minute against Slavia Prague. He quickly received the ball on the right from Declan Rice and drew a foul from David Zima. Shortly after, he controlled a diagonal pass and maneuvered the ball along the touchline, evading another defender.
“That’s personality, that’s courage, and you cannot teach that,” Arteta remarked. “You have it or you don’t. It doesn’t matter what his passport says. You put him in this scenario, and he adapts and performs well. I’m very pleased with that.”
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