In recent years, Arsenal have made a real name for themselves in terms of young players coming through the academy and becoming first-team stars.
Bukayo Saka is arguably the biggest name to graduate from the Hale End setup to the Arsenal squad in recent years, but he’s by no means the only one.
The likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah all did well for Arsenal and are still playing Premier League football elsewhere.
More recently, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have broken into the Gunners first-team setup and are playing like experienced professionals.
Rio Ferdinand has now named another Arsenal youngster who looks like he’ll become a star in years to come.
Rio Ferdinand tips Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman for bright future
Ferdinand, speaking on the latest episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, spoke highly of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly after the 7-1 win over PSG.
He then urged people to watch out for Max Dowman, saying “it’ll be worth your wait” when he makes his breakthrough in the next few years.
“You saw Ethan Nwaneri, 17 years old,” Ferdinand told Darren Fletcher on the show.
“Only four players scored in a knockout game under 18 years old and he’s one of them now.”
Ferdinand went on to say: “Hale End, Arsenal, they’re churning out some kids now. Lewis-Skelly, young kid, and Nwaneri we just talked about.
“They’ve got another kid called Max Dowman, oh you must have seen him play against your boy.
“Oh, if you not know about Max Dowman guys, wait and it’ll be worth your wait to watch this kid play football.”
Ferdinand previously said Arsenal insiders have told him Dowman trains with the senior players like it’s just another day, such is his talent and confidence.
Whether Dowman could play in the Premier League this season
Dowman is currently 15 years old, the same age Nwaneri was when he made his Premier League debut.
However, as per Premier League rules, no player below the Under-16 age group can be named in a matchday squad.
This means that a player had to have been 15 years of age by August 31, 2024 to be eligible to play at any stage this season.
Dowman turned 15 on 31 December last year, so he’s ineligible to play in the Premier League this term.
And Mikel Arteta recently suggested that there’s no way that can be changed.
He said in his press conference ahead of the Leicester City game: “It’s clear, the rules on age and restrictions at the moment.
“And it is very difficult to change that as well.”
