Gooners have a habit of saying the same thing. I have written for this site long enough to know at which point of a season certain readers will repeat their same thought process from previous campaigns. You could copy and paste what was said.
The Nwaneri Overhype Revisited
This time last year, some were trying to convince others (and themselves?) that Ethan Nwaneri was more skilful than Lamine Yamal. Yes, that Yamal. The one who, having just turned 17, had won the Euros with Spain and, at 16, could already boast a La Liga medal.
Everyone is, of course, entitled to their opinion. It would be boring if we all thought the same. Yet when this claim was made, Nwaneri had yet to start a competitive match for anyone, meaning that unless these fans religiously watched him in the underage groups, they were forming this judgement on a few cameos in pre-season.
One teenager just lifted another Spanish title. The other wasn’t trusted to start in the Premier League run-in and was behind Reuell Walters in the pecking order. One was scoring in the Champions League semi-final. The other stayed on the bench in Paris when his team needed a goal, with full backs deemed more suitable attacking options. One played in the Nations League Final. The other cannot start for England’s Under-21s. One is the youngest to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. The other doesn’t get into his club or country’s strongest eleven. Oh, and Ethan Nwaneri is the one a few months older!
This isn’t about highlighting how wrong those were who made this prediction, but it shows that their point of view was dictated by their heart, not their head. They say Arsenal possess the world’s next superstar because they are desperate for that to be true.
The Pressure of Hale End Hype
That is why 12 months ago, I was being told that Eddie Nketiah was a better option than Mbappe. Or why a debate existed that Maitland-Niles had become a superior DM to Kante. We still have a section of our fanbase trying to convince themselves in 2025 that Reiss Nelson can still contribute something.
All are, of course, graduates from Hale End. All “one of our own.” All individuals who fans want to succeed. Yet by forecasting they are going to compete with the very best in the sport just because they come from our academy is unfair on teenagers who already have enough pressure and expectation to cope with.
It is okay at a club the size of Arsenal to be competing in the squad. Mikel Arteta realised that, which is why he managed Nwaneri’s minutes from March. In many ways, our manager protected the player by taking him out of the firing line.
Rewind back to January, and a narrative existed that a 17-year-old was going to help us overtake Liverpool without Havertz, Saka, Jesus or Martinelli. Some argued that his development justified not bringing in another attacker in the winter window out of fear of his progress being blocked.
I watched fixtures this year where Arsenal struggled to turn possession into chances, were not working the keeper enough and lacked quality in the final third. Yet on fan channels, I would hear our front three were poor apart from Nwaneri.
An average performance would be described as good, a good display translated as great. Of course, what you want or feel doesn’t change the facts. Whether his boss felt the praise was going to his head, the risk of physical or mental burnout, or the lights were too bright, Nwaneri was dropped.
Dowman Deserves Patience
So you would think some of my peers would learn their lesson. That the next time a promising prospect emerged, there would be patience and no need to get carried away. That we simply take everything game by game.
Along comes Max Dowman! His situation is even more extreme because he has had zero seconds of competitive senior football and is being judged on a couple of cameos in friendlies. Oh, and he’s 15!
There will be enough attention on anyone who should be at school but is playing for Arsenal. The priority from his employers is to protect their assets. Our club has always been great at surrounding their youngsters with the correct support network. It will equally be up to family and close friends to keep the talent grounded.
At least we have a boss who won’t tolerate anyone getting carried away after praise. How does he respond to fame, to the scrutiny after his first league goal, an international cap, etc? It’s impossible to know, making certain claims by some premature.
What his loved ones, coaching staff and even the dressing room won’t appreciate is the assertion that Madueke’s arrival impacts him or that he can already be Odegaard’s competition. All are mature enough to know that this talk cannot help him but only harm.
Arteta already confirmed that Max Dowman will be a part of first team plans next season.
That’s the irony. Some think they are being positive by wanting a 15-year-old thrown in at the deep end. In reality, if you want to look after him, the opposite is true. As best as possible, he needs to be in an environment where he is left alone to embrace the sport.
Let the Kid Breathe
The reality is, if we have the next Yamal under our nose, the skill will be undeniable and unavoidable, where he can’t not be noticed. Yet this isn’t a movie.
The bigger danger is you ask someone to swim in an ocean when they are not ready, and they drown. Suddenly, you have ruined a career because you couldn’t wait.
While I maintain the Kroenke family will be content with another top-four finish, the club are under pressure from some Gooners (not all) to end their 22-year title drought.
So once there was room to experiment with a youngster. I’m not sure you can take that gamble while having to win every few days. I don’t want to get to January and be told second is okay, but we had someone not experienced playing and were asked to wait for him to develop.
Some of the analysis on our pre-season tour has almost been patronising. If he makes a pass, beats his man or does any kind of skill, the reaction is like we’ve seen something earth-shattering.
First of all, perspective is needed. We are playing in Asia not because our opponents are taking things seriously or trying to test themselves. It is a bunch of companies in the Far East making money off their brand. So facing AC Milan, Newcastle and even Spurs to make money is not comparable to Old Trafford in a couple of weeks.
Also, whisper it quietly, any kid who advances from our academy to the main squad means they are quite good at football. They know how to shoot and cross, etc. You shouldn’t be shocked that a professional footballer can run and dribble a ball at the same time.
You shouldn’t be watching the action from Singapore or Hong Kong and be wondering how good Dowman is on the pitch. That is a given. It’s off the pitch where he needs a blanket put over him and looked after.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. What’s your take on managing and protecting Arsenal’s young, emerging talent?
Dan Smith
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I am sure he will get in the team when he is ready. Wether that be this season another season or never. And nothing we say will make any difference to the timescale.
I think the club’s management are best placed to do that, and I know the will. The manager’s plans to his development or any other youth prospect will be on show as the new campaign kicks in, so we can’t really tell if they are better than Yamal or not. Premature to start any comparisons considering the competition they face internally and competition they are involved which is higher than the one in La liga.
*They will.
The excitement is natural but reality check is that he is a child. 15 years old is so young. I’ve seen the Yamal comparisons but Yamal’s path is extremely Unconventional in itself. And tbh, his off-field antics already at such a young age are concerning from a character perspective. Let the boy grow and keep learning. He has not even played a U-21 match yet!
I think you’re right about Dowman.
Frankly though there’s nothing to compare him to Lamine Yamal really. At just 18 (literally) YL really is a phenomenon – by a mile the best player for his age in football currently.
As for his off-field antics that you mentioned, that was around the choice of “entertainment” for his recent 18th Birthday Party. Certainly not very sensible, but he’s a teenager still and I’m sure Dowman will make his own debatable choices further along the road, whatever anyone tries to advise.
I do recall we had, for a while anyway, the same sort of comparison suggestions but with Nwaneri this time to YL. They turned out to be false as well.
If a youngster does not break in the first team, stay there and even carry it over his shoulders right away is not going to be a world class player. Most likely they will end up average or just good.
Wilshere, Rooney, Fabregas, Ronaldo, Messi, Yamal, Mbappe, Owen, Saka, Saliba and the likes did not have “give him patience” mentioned with their names.
Or simply give him the game time he’s earned and deserves. Nothing worse that someone ruining momentum right.
The absolute worst thing is to give the kids 2 minutes at the end of a cup game like we’ve seen often in the past 5 years….while over playing our EPL starters in game that’s already won
I’ve already said what Dan has said on a couple of other posts regarding Dowman.
While the talent is plain to see, he’s still only 15 and a kid. so rather than hype him up to the rafters and put undue pressure on him, just let him develop at the right pace.
As time goes by, no doubt his talent will shine through. And then he should be given the chance to show us what a talent we believe him to be.
What’s the hurry, slowly, slowly, wins the race I believe the saying goes. 👍🤷♂️
I agree with everything. In addition to the mental pressure, there’s also the physical. This is a boy whose body is still developing. His style of play is one where he likes to take players on and this always invites challenges as we saw against Newcastle, and it was only a friendly.
Do we want a 15 year old boy being kicked countless times by grown men? Arsenal fans should know better having seen what happened to Jack Wilshere whose style also invited challenges. He has to protected until he’s physically ready.
Two sides to this… either you are good enough or you are not, it’s simple. If hype, which we English do always, is a factor to his downfall then he would never really be considered elite. Fabregas and Anelka both 16 making debuts for us and went on to be brilliant…Nypan, 15 years old and now at Man City. As I said, if you’re good, you’re are good.
Bang on comment 👍
Very long winded…….I think Dowman will be an extremely good player.
Can only agree with the majority of above opinion that Dowmam should be placed in cotton wool and eased along gently until he is physically and emotionally ready. There is no rush. At the same time if the likes of Odegaard are unable to perform to the required standard, then he and Nwaneri should be given additional opportunities to demonstrate what they are capable of.
If Dowman doesn’t get game time then he will never light the Emirates. There’s no hype in calling for teenagers to get game time. If there is potential energy let it be converted to kinetic energy. I only noticed that Arteta doesn’t trust young players. I can observe this with the way Chido and Heaven departed. Some might think it’s about greediness but there’s something bigger behind in which our manager lacks.
@ Dan, fans getting excited on home grown young players is natural and we all hope they hit it early just like LY. The development of the players is down to the player himself and those around him. Nothing to do with fans expectations or hype, he should know how to handle it. LY was also hyped and called out but he proves himself.
All fans hyped their young players, few make it others don’t. The only problem is comparison. That Yamal achieved things early doesn’t mean others should.
If someone makes that comparison you can’t then ignore one being more successful then the other
The way I see it is that there are 2 options.
1)keep playing him now and hope that his young body, which hasn’t fully grown yet, doesn’t suffer a serious injury that cuts his career short.
2)nurture him with minutes here and there, allowing his his body to grow naturally, allowing him to have a long and hopefully successful career.
I know which one I prefer, the 2nd option.
Herr Drier,
A certain Jack Wiltshire suffered a lot of injury’s. I sometimes wonder if there’s any connection with the injury’s coming at a young age.
So, I’m to with your second point as well.🤷♂️👍
Derek, it wouldn’t surprise me me if Jack’s long list of injuries resulted from playing to much before his body had fully developed.
Bad Derek, still spelling Jack’s last name that way. Thou I agree with you and HD.
Bruised Banana,
I’ll take your verbal slap regards my spelling of Wiltshire, (Wilshire).
But I do believe you meant to say although, but you put Thou🤦♂️, Bad Bruised Banana right back at you. 🤣😂👍
Yeah, but since I know you’re a long-time gooner like myself, yours had a hidden meaning, mine had no meaning, lol.