Yesterday, in a 3-0 drubbing of Slavia Prague, Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history after coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.
According to AFP, in 2020, Dowman—who is 15 years and 309 days old—bested Youssoufa Moukoko—a German striker who played for Borussia Dortmund at Zenit St. Petersburg—at the age of 16 years and 18 days.
The FC Copenhagen team presently has Moukoko on the field.
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, praised Dowman for his “personality” and “courage” at the Prague press conference that followed the match.
“He enters the game, immediately seizes the ball, challenges defenders, begins to dribble, and a foul is called,” he explained.
No amount of instruction can cover that. It makes no difference what his passport says; it’s either there or it isn’t.
“You put him in this situation and he manages to adapt and deliver a solid performance, so I’m thrilled with that,” Arteta chimed in.
Dowman debuted for the Gunners in a 5-0 Premier League victory over Leeds on August 23 at the tender age of fifteen years and two hundred thirty-four days.
While he made his Premier League debut in 2022, he was 53 days younger than his Arsenal colleague Ethan Nwaneri, making him the second-youngest player in league history.
However, last week in Arsenal’s 2-0 League Cup fourth round victory over Brighton, Dowman became the club’s youngest-ever starter.
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