Arsenal sensation Dowman defies his years, according to Arteta

Arsenal's English midfielder #56 Max Dowman is seen celebrating his late second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 14, 2026, in a moment that will be remembered for a long time.

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Mikel Arteta described the moment Max Dowman became the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer as a "magical moment" after Arsenal secured a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, a victory that brought them closer to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

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Dowman played a crucial role in the win, providing the cross for Viktor Gyokeres to score the opening goal on 89 minutes, and then scoring the second goal himself by running from deep inside his own half to slot into an empty net after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford ventured forward for a corner in stoppage time.

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In doing so, Dowman set a new record for the youngest scorer in Premier League history at 16 and 73 days, adding to his already impressive list of records, which include being Arsenal's youngest ever starter and the Champions League's youngest ever player, both achieved when he was just 15.

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Arteta reflected on the moment of Dowman's goal, saying "It was a great moment, especially with the way the goal built up, we had 10 or 15 seconds to really enjoy what was about to happen", and added that "it was magical, all the bench and players together jumping up with the crowd, it was a beautiful day".

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The win opened up a 10-point lead for Arsenal over Manchester City, who have two games in hand, at the top of the table, but Arteta's men had struggled to find a creative spark until Dowman's introduction off the bench 16 minutes from time.

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Arteta praised Dowman's impact on the game, saying "He changed the game every time he got the ball, he made things happen and we looked like more of a threat", and added that "to do it at that age, in this context, with the pressure and expectations to win the game, it's just not normal".

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Arteta also noted that Dowman's ability to perform under pressure is a rare talent, saying "it's natural for him, he doesn't feel the pressure — that's the best thing, he does what he feels and when you have such a talent, I'm sure good things are going to happen".

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Viktor Gyokeres also had a notable performance, scoring the opening goal after Pickford got caught under a Dowman cross and the ball bounced off Piero Hincapie into his path, a goal that was a testament to his ability to respond to being dropped in favour of Kai Havertz.

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The release of tension inside the Emirates Stadium was evident in Arteta's wild celebration of both goals, which came after a nervy 90 minutes, but he praised his players for remaining cool under the pressure of a title race.

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Arteta emphasized the importance of patience and composure in the face of pressure, saying "there are times when we have to be patient because with all the dominance and the amount of shots we have when we don't score, the anxiety is building", and added that "you have to stay composed, be relentless in your desire to win the game and make something happen, the team had the spirit today".