By Graham Ruthven
Viktor Gyökeres wasn’t even enjoying, however the Swedish striker’s unveiling as an Arsenal participant was meant to be the headline act of the Gunners’ pre-season pleasant in opposition to Newcastle United. This was the second a summer-long saga got here to an finish with Gyökeres signed for £64m to be the quantity 9 so many consider Mikel Arteta’s staff has lacked.
In the end, although, Sunday’s match on the Singapore Nationwide Stadium is likely to be remembered for the emergence of a 15-year-old wonderkid over the presentation of Gyökeres. Certainly, Max Dowman stole the present, placing in a efficiency off the bench that had many, together with Arteta, gushing after full time.
“Yeah, it’s particular,” mentioned the Arsenal supervisor when requested about Dowman’s apparent pure expertise. “‘Clearly what he’s executed at the moment in opposition to this staff within the time that he had on the pitch is one thing definitely not widespread to witness for a 15-year-old. We’re extraordinarily blissful to have him.”
Dowman lit up the sport off the bench, successful the penalty from which Martin Ødegaard scored the winner with a solo dribble and drive into the Newcastle field. {The teenager} was a continuing thorn within the facet of the Magpies and was electrical in pushing Arsenal in the direction of objective. It was a particularly memorable show.
This summer time has already been transformative for Arsenal’s assault. They lastly accomplished a deal to land Gyökeres from Sporting over the weekend, giving Arteta a pure attacking point of interest presumably for the primary time in his tenure on the membership. The hopes is that Gyökeres will carry a few of his scintillating goalscoring kind from final season (54 targets in 52 video games) into the upcoming marketing campaign.
Noni Madueke has arrived from Chelsea primarily to offer Arsenal an alternative choice on the best wing the place Bukayo Saka has been run into the bottom over the past three seasons. When Saka has been injured, the Gunners have suffered and so Madueke will assist mitigate the burden on the 23-year-old who’s Arsenal’s artistic heartbeat.
It’s attainable final season’s Premier League runners-up might additionally transfer for a left winger. Nico Williams had been linked with a transfer to North London earlier than signing a brand new 10-year contract extension with Athletic Membership whereas Rodrygo is reportedly on Arsenal’s radar amid hypothesis Actual Madrid would entertain provides for the Brazilian.
Arteta’s feedback after the pre-season win over Newcastle counsel Dowman will get his alternative within the first staff subsequent season, giving Arsenal an alternative choice within the closing third. It could be unrealistic to count on the 15-year-old to play something greater than 1,000 minutes, however he might nonetheless be afforded the possibility to make an influence off the bench and in cup video games.
For somebody nonetheless so younger, Dowman has the bodily body of a a lot older participant. He can maintain his personal within the senior recreation. He has the pure depth to press from the entrance and acts shortly with the ball every time he has it within the attacking third. As a dribbler, a creator and a finisher who can function on the best facet or as a quantity 10, Dowman has the ability set to be a star.
The emergence of Dowman is one other signal that Arsenal’s academy is changing into more and more prolific. The North London membership has at all times executed a superb job of bringing by way of younger gamers (see Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere, Tony Adams and so forth.), however Arteta has executed his half to ascertain a constant pathway into the primary staff.
That pathway began with Saka making himself some of the vital first staff figures on the Emirates Stadium. It continued with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri breaking by way of final season. Dowman is seemingly subsequent off the conveyer belt rolling out of Hale Finish. He is likely to be probably the most thrilling prospect since Saka.
To change into Premier League winners for the primary time for the reason that days of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal wanted to enhance their first staff this summer time. They appear to have executed that primarily with the addition of Martin Zubimendi who has been signed to be the Gunners’ Rodri-type determine on the base of the midfield.
Gyökeres is also Arsenal’s new beginning centre ahead, though Kai Havertz will take some dislodging from the place. Havertz won’t be probably the most instinctive of finishers, however his all-round recreation in and across the penalty field helps Arsenal change into a greater attacking outfit as an entire. Arteta is aware of what the German provides.
In Dowman, although, Arsenal have a teenager who might turn into somebody ok to enhance the primary staff. Somebody ok to make them Premier League champions in the event that they haven’t already scaled that mountain. If Dowman is that this good on the age of simply 15, think about how a lot better he might change into in a short time.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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