How Arsenal’s Max Dowman, 15, played for England U17s: Close control, turns and lessons learnt

Rrogozhine. A small town an hour by road south of Albania’s capital of Tirana described as having “just two buildings” by a local taxi driver, yet on Wednesday it hosted a match littered with moments that gave a potential glimpse into the future of European football.

England were facing Belgium in their opening game of the Under-17s European Championship, and within minutes of the opening kick-off, a pair of the Belgians’ analysts were heard saying “he should have been fouled”. The player they were talking about is the youngest at this tournament — Arsenal’s 15-year-old Max Dowman. He had just driven into their half, showing the ability that has seen Arsenal first-team manager Mikel Arteta say the teenager is already part of his squad-planning thoughts for the near future.

Dowman’s qualities have become more recognisable throughout the season — this was just his newest stage for displaying them. He had a shot blocked on the line within a minute of the game starting, but it was his close control and dribbling against one of the most formidable opponents he will face in these Euros that got the 1,688 spectators on their feet.

Starting as a No 10, he was met by Nathan De Cat, a 16-year-old holding midfielder who has played seven times, and scored, for Anderlecht’s first team. Theirs was a battle that defined the 1-1 draw, with each one bettering the other at different moments.

Dowman’s dribbling became more of a feature 20 minutes in, when he received the ball and evaded an onrushing De Cat. He drove 40 yards upfield before those Belgian recommendations of fouling him were carried out. Shortly after, Dowman drifted to the right, bringing down a long ball with the outside of his boot. A twist inside, out and then back was too good for his marker, before he had a powerful left-footed shot saved.

At this point, with England 1-0 up through a strike from Lyon forward Alejandro Rodriguez, De Cat was almost single-handedly dragging Belgium back into the game. A towering figure, one of his headers came close to beating Jack Porter, another Arsenal player, in goal.

More dribbles came from Dowman as the first half progressed. One started in England territory and ended with a shot dragged wide from inside the opposition box, while another began with him poking the ball away from a Belgium midfielder before slipping the ball in behind for Ryan McAidoo, the Manchester City winger, to have a shot on goal. Not every one of these attempts came off, however, with De Cat growing into the game.

There were also moments that showed Dowman is still growing and learning, with advice on where to stand at defensive set-pieces coming from the England dugout, and he clearly tired in the second half. That went for both teams, however, with the game becoming more end-to-end after PSV’s Noah Fernandez equalised with a free kick that kissed the crossbar on its way in.

“There were a lot of turnovers,” England captain, and Fulham midfielder, Seth Ridgeon told The Athletic. “In the second half, it got a bit out of our hands, but we can’t be too disappointed with that result in our first group game. 

“Max is two years younger than some of us and he’s very mature with how he plays. He’s just got to keep building and not get too frustrated if he doesn’t score. There are plenty more games to come and show how good he is.”

Dowman, like many of the players in this squad, have been together since the England Under-16 age group — a policy of progressing together that goes for coaches as well as players.

When former Arsenal Under-23s head coach Kevin Betsy was at the FA, he coached largely the same set of players from under-15s until under-18s level. England Under-16s head coach Greg Lincoln had coached Ethan Nwaneri, also of Arsenal, in that age group and then did so again in last summer’s edition of this tournament. Under-17s head coach Neil Ryan is now in his second year with this group of players.

“(The benefits are) consistency,” Ryan tells The Athletic. “The staff get to know a number of the players over a period of time and how they’re developing. It’s very difficult to just start with a new group and build those relationships. The more time you spend with them, the more clarity there is in how we want to play. That familiarity with the players and staff helps when we arrive at camp, because we’re already well connected.”

On whether that familiarity makes him more comfortable selecting players such as Dowman, who are years younger than the under-17s level, he added: “When you watch Max and other boys for their clubs, they’re performing at a higher level than their age indicates. Players throughout the whole squad are playing at under-21s and in first-team squads, so they’re getting challenged within their club. Some of them are dropping back an age group to play under-17s, which makes my job challenging to pick the best squad.”

England play Italy, who beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Wednesday night opener, next back in Rrogozhine on Friday and can be grateful to another Arsenal player they go into that with a point — Porter having made a vital save late on. After the eight-team finals began with 3-0 and 4-0 wins for France and Portugal over Germany and Albania respectively on Thursday, Group B got off to a more competitive start.

With at least another two matches to come for England before the top two in each group go on to the semis and final, there is more than enough time for Dowman to put his stamp on this tournament.

(Top photo: Ben McShane – Sportsfile/UEFA via Getty Images)

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